BRUCETON, Tenn. — History was both made and honored at Joe T. Herndon Stadium Friday night, Sept. 25, as the Tigers earned a hard-fought homecoming win against Collinwood.
The making of history came on the scoreboard. The Tigers’ 12-7 win was the team’s first victory over the Trojans in a decade.
The honoring of history came from the stands. The original Tiger Fan Band, a group of fans known for their signature spirit through some of the Tigers’ most memorable seasons, served as grand marshal of the homecoming parade and delivered the game ball to team captains following the coin toss.
For many in the stands, it was like 1995 at Joe T. Herndon Stadium all over again, as the Fan Band brought their enthusiasm back to the bleachers for the occasion.
The game itself opened shaky for Central. Collinwood recovered a Tiger fumble during the opening kickoff return. Tiger defense held the Trojans off, however. Jake Pardue stopped a fourth-down run short of the line to force a turnover on downs. Central’s own drive stalled soon after on an interception, and Collinwood took over once again near midfield. A Daegan Collins sack on fourth down forced another turnover on downs.
Central’s offense finally broke through late in the first quarter, driving the field behind completions to Korbin Brown and Tanner Walters before Easton Bullington’s keeper set up a goal-line score. Brown capped the drive with a touchdown pitch, making it 6-0.
Collinwood answered in the second quarter, capitalizing on another Central fumble to set up a long touchdown pass that gave the Trojans a 7-6 lead after the extra point.
Central responded before halftime with a long, clock-eating drive.
Facing pressure throughout, Bullington connected with Carter Lowe for a touchdown with just 18 seconds left in the half, putting Central back on top 12-7. A blocked extra point kept the margin at five.
The third quarter turned into a defensive battle, and consisted of only two drives.
Facing 2nd-and-9 from the Central 35, Collinwood quarterback Gentry Hart faked a pass and took off running, breaking loose for 34 yards before being tackled at the goal line and fumbling the ball away. Tiger Braxton Hampton recovered the fumble just before the end zone.
Pinned at their own 1-yard-line, the Tigers answered with a marathon drive of their own, powered by Collins and Lowe on the ground and helped by a Central fumble recovery from Walters to keep the possession alive.
A pass interference penalty against Collinwood set up a first down at Collinwood’s 15, but the drive stalled in the red zone. Central attempted a field goal to open the fourth quarter, but Walters’ kick from the CW 13 sailed wide.
Both defenses tightened down the stretch. Collinwood’s final possession appeared to produce a go-ahead touchdown in the closing seconds, but a holding penalty wiped it off the board, and the Trojans turned the ball over on downs. Bullington knelt out the final seconds to seal the win.
Final: Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central 12, Collinwood 7.
Central improved their season record to 4-2, and 1-1 in region play.
The Tigers travel to Jackson on Friday, October 2 to face Liberty Tech Magnet.
