By DONOVAN STEWART

Paul Cox has been a high school football coach for almost four decades; he might have finally seen the end of the tunnel. Cox, a longtime Memphis-area head coach for the last 37 years will step down at the end of the season. For the last 34 years Cox has guided the Collierville Dragons to 19 of their 21 playoff appearances including two semifinal appearances. Cox who has also coached at Bishop Byrne for three years before taking over at Collierville is third all time in career wins for Shelby county coaches with 279.

Blackman Gets Shut Down - One of three teams in 6A that was undefeated going into last week’s games, the Blaze (7-1) finally met a team that could shut down their three-headed rushing monster of DeShawn Smith, Jacquez Smith and I’tavious Mathers. Defending Class 5A state champion Oakland led by University of Kentucky commitment defensive tackle Tim McAdoo bullied and overwhelmed the Blackman offensive line as the Blaze rushed for only nine yards on 27 attempts. Oakland only allowed 99 yards of total offense and offensively got two touchdown runs by sophomore running back Tee Mayberry for a 14-0 win. The Blaze defense which leads the state in scoring defense at only 5.1 points per contest didn’t play badly as the Patriots only had 192 yards of total offense but enough to get the big district 7-AAA win. Now Riverdale sits on top of district 7-AAA while Blackman and Oakland are both 3-1 and tied for second.

ECS Tops FACS In Division II-A Battle - A week after suffering their first loss of the season to Christian Brothers, Evangelical Christian got back on the winning track in a big way defeating First Assembly Christian 42-13. Running back Davis Childers (176 yards, four TDs) and quarterback Will Jamison (145 yards, one TD) combined for 321 of 432 total yards on the evening for ECS (7-1). After giving up an early score, ECS made an adjustment on defense and their offense got going behind Childers and Jamison as the Eagles scored the next 35 points. The ECS defense shut down FACS star running back Dane Wilson who only gained 65 yards on 22 carries which is 80 yards less than his average of 145. The win gives ECS the Division II-A West title and a first round playoff bye.

Brighton Blasts Previously Undefeated Hardin County- For Hardin Co. the third-ranked team in Class 5A, it was the wrong time for their special teams to break down. Brighton took advantage of a blocked punt, a snap that went over the punter’s head and three bobbled snaps to shock Hardin Co. 34-14. Three times Brighton scored touchdowns on a short field due to special teams difficulty. With the victory, Brighton now owns the tiebreaker over both Hardin County and Jackson Northside.

Austin East 14, Gatlinburg Pittman 7- A 70 yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Sheldon Wade in the fourth quarter turned out to be the winning margin for Austin East. Gatlinburg Pittman running back Dillon Reagan scored to give the Highlanders (7-1) a 7-6 lead early in the fourth quarter but the Roadrunners got the big kick return to get the win.

Westwood breaks 19 game losing streak beating MAHS 50-0- Westwood quarterback Joseph Smoot was the catalyst for the Longhorn offense in their win against MAHS. The junior ran and threw for two touchdowns and was the sparkplug for the Longhorns 32 point explosion in the second quarter. Sophomore running back Martavius Summers also rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown in the win for Westwood the first since 2007. Congratulations also go to Memphis Northside for breaking a 14-game losing streak by defeating Frayser 22-21

FRIDAY NIGHT STAT STUFFERS

Tyler Edwards, RB, Trousdale Co- Rushed for 235 yards and 3 TDs on 10 carries in a 57-0 win over Monterey.

Dray Mercer, WR, Perry Co. - Caught seven passes for 204 yards and three TDs, he also had a touchdown run in a 34-19 win over Collinwood.

Terrence Martin, RB, Franklin Co. - Rushed for a school record 355 yards and scored four TDs in a 34-14 win over Lincoln Co.

Tobias Houston, RB, Giles Co. - Rushed for 200 yards and scored three times in a 22-0 win over Lewis Co.

Keiwone Malone, WR, Mitchell- Caught nine passes for 191 yards and three TDs in a 24-21 loss to Whitehaven.

Jonathan Brown, RB, Christian Brothers- Rushed for 203 yards and three TDs in a 38-28 win over Briarcrest.

Romarious Westbrook, QB, Bishop Byrne- Rushed for 213 yards and one touchdown in a 33-6 loss to Harding Academy.

Chase Travis, RB, Pigeon Forge- Rushed for 201 and a touchdown in a 7-6 win over Union City.

Davis Frank, LB, Grace Christian Academy- Recorded 24 tackles, five sacks, forced three fumbles and blocked two punts in a 35-6 win over Harriman.

Orleans Darkwa, RB, Ensworth- Rushed for 364 yards and four TDs in a 35-27 win over Father Ryan.

Brice White, RB, Riverside- Rushed for 237 yards and five TDs in a 40-20 win over Trinity Christian.

A.J. Collier- Rushed for 216 yards and two touchdowns in a 20-14 win over Lake Co.

Shane Salley, QB, DeKalb Co.- Threw for 333 yards and four TDs in a relief role in a 33-14 win over Upperman.

Abram Edwards, WR, DeKalb Co.- Caught only six passes but scored three times and had 245 yards in a 33-14 win over Upperman.

BY THE NUMBERS

3- Number of passes intercepted by Elizabethton cornerback Zach Boles in his team’s 35-12 win over Johnson County.

5.1- Points per game Blackman’s defense is allowing this season -- best in the state.

6- Losing streak to Marshall County for Spring Hill before Spring Hill’s win Friday.

17- Number of undefeated teams left in the state.

24- Number of winless teams left in the state.

31- Touchdown passes by USJ junior quarterback Jake Overbey.

50.0- Points Trousdale County is averaging per game -- best in the state.

1,870- Rushing yards for Ensworth running back Orleans Darkwa -- which leads the state.

1983- The last year that Bledsoe County won a district title before winning the 7-AA title Friday night.

1985- Last year that Polk County won a district championship.

2002- The last time that West Greene defeated South Greene in the "Battle of the Milk Can."