Perfect ending for Wildcat’s regular season

COLLINWOOD, Tenn. - Both coaches knew their teams already were in the Class 1A playoffs before kickoff, but that didn't mean there was anything less to play for Saturday afternoon.

Collinwood had a chance to win the region title, Wayne County's perfect season hinged on a victory and there's always the bragging rights between the two rivals.

Throw in a rare afternoon game on a muddy field saturated by rain and the season's biggest crowd, and it was a perfect setting at Pat Brewer Stadium.

Collinwood did end Tyler Rice's streak of throwing a touchdown pass at 18 games, but the second-ranked Wildcats did the celebrating when the game was over, holding on for a 28-14 victory.

The win capped the first perfect regular season in Wayne County history and sends the Wildcats (10-0) into the playoffs as a No. 2 seed in the TSSAA six-team quadrant. As a result, the Wildcats will get a first-round bye.

Collinwood (6-4) will play at McEwen on Friday for its playoff opener.

Chase Graham scored two touchdowns and Tyler Rice and Dillon Warren scored one each to lead Wayne County. Max Risner scored both Collinwood touchdowns in a game postponed from Friday because of inclement weather.

Wayne County had the three biggest plays of the game, including two by Warren.

Warren's first big play came late in the third quarter just moments after Collinwood tied it at 14. Warren took an inside handoff and bolted 25 yards for a first down at the Trojans 2, and on the next play Rice squeezed into the end zone.

Warren's second big play came after Rice made his big play, intercepting a Jacob Davis pass at the Collinwood 41. Facing third down and 5 yards to go, Warren ran the same play 36 yards for a touchdown, getting into the secondary and making the last defender miss the tackle. The touchdown gave the Wildcats a 28-14 lead with 6:12 to play.

"I don't know what the coaches saw, but that play worked perfectly," said Warren, who finished with 149 yards on 13 carries.

"Our line blocked it great and I was able to get into the end zone."

Wayne County coach Rick Rice says the play is a variation from a Wing-T formation.

"That's one of my favorite plays," he said. "We run it out of split backs. It's kind of a quick play and you have good blocking angles."

Collinwood coach Michael Statom said it was a case of Wayne County running the play perfectly.

"It's just a belly play and they outblocked us," he said. "Wayne County made a few more plays than we did today."

When Collinwood turned the ball over on downs at the Wayne County 5 on its next possession, the Wildcats had ensured themselves of a perfect season.

"Ten-and-oh is the best feeling I think I've ever had," Warren said.

"I think we can go all the way this year. I'm not saying it's definite, but I believe we can do it."

Graham staked Wayne County to a 7-0 lead with a 12-yard run in the first quarter, but Risner answered for the Trojans with a 1-yard run late in the second quarter to cap a 15-play, 60-yard drive that consumed slightly more than 8 minutes.

Rice's 21-yard connection to his brother, Austin, set up Graham's second score on a 5-yard run with 1:39 remaining in the first half.

Collinwood tied it in the third quarter on Risner's 2-yard run before the Wildcats scored the final two touchdowns.