SHANE SHOEMAKER – Writer
After having to take second place in Region 3-1A with last week’s loss to South Pittsburg, the Whitwell Tigers (8-3) were still able to host a home playoff opening round matchup against the Red Boiling Springs Bulldogs (5-6) last Friday night.
The Tigers started their postseason in convincing fashion, obliterating the Bulldogs by a score of 55-12. From the first quarter until early in the third quarter, the Tigers put on an offensive onslaught, scoring eight times to the Bulldogs’ two, who only scored in the second half.
Therion Mordecai started things off for the Tigers on his first touch of the game with a 42-yard touchdown run, followed by a Wyatt Davis 15-yard run for another score. Davis would add another 10-yarder and would total 37 yards on four carries with two touchdowns on the evening.
Bennett McDougal finished the Tigers’ first-quarter scoring with a 65-yard interception return on defense. But in the second quarter, he threw two touchdown receptions, one for 39 yards to Ryan Scott, and another to Garrett Miller for 64 yards. McDougal added another 34 yards rushing.
The last two Tigers’ scores came from Daniel Ashworth and Peyton Roberts with 14- and 57-yard runs. The Tigers put up 441 total yards of offense to the Bulldogs’ 215 and accounted for only one turnover to the opposition’s four. 
The Bulldogs never forced one punt from the Tigers the entire night.
Whitwell will now have to travel for the second round to face the Gordonsville Tigers (7-4), who beat Chattanooga Prep, 13-12, in the first round.
-Photo credits to Kristie Eggert
