THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Houston High School Athletics

Collierville had just scored to cut Friday's game to a one-touchdown deficit after trailing by 21 points. Houston’s offense had gone stagnant in the second half and needed to find a way to pull away. Then Chandler Day went back to pass. He ran toward the Houston sideline and the Collierville defense collapsed. That left Andre Allen Jr. wide open for a 50-yard catch-and-run touchdown, helping the Mustangs defeat Collierville 42-28 in the regular season finale. Houston (8-2, 6-1) is the No. 2 seed from Region 8-6A in the TSSAA football playoffs and will host Dickson County (6-4) in the first-round game next week. With the loss and Bartlett’s win over Whitehaven, the Dragons (7-3, 5-3) are the No. 4 seed in the region and will play the first round at Clarksville (10-0). Here are the key takeaways from Houston’s big win over Collierville and what it means for the TSSAA football playoffs, which begin next Friday. Can Houston make a TSSAA football playoff run? Houston coach James Thomas is optimistic after getting a region win on the road on Friday night. He said this team, in certain ways, reminds him of the 2019 Houston football team that played for the 6A semifinals. "It’s got a lot of characteristics,” Thomas said, comparing the two teams. “... This one’s got a little bit more playmakers everywhere.” The ability to get the ball to multiple playmakers is what makes this Houston team dangerous. Three Houston players who will have an impact in the TSSAA playoffs Damon Sisa is the explosive back that is dangerous in the open field. He rushed for 199 yards and three touchdowns in the Friday’s win, including a 50-yard touchdown run. Biggest advantage for Houston ahead of the TSSAA playoffs One of the best advantages to being the No. 2 seed in the playoffs is not having the travel for the first round. But that’s not what Thomas said is the team’s biggest advantage. That makes sense in a region where five teams had an overall record of .500 or better and every team except one had at least four wins. Having to play Bartlett, Collierville, Whitehaven and Germantown in the regular season is about as close to playoff preparation as you can get. There are no off weeks in Region 8-6A and Houston feels it will be better off with its schedule. "We feel like we’ve seen some of the best teams around and some of the best teams in Mississippi,” Thomas said. “We’ve taken that, we’ve learned from it and now we feel like we’re hitting our stride at the right time.”

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Houston High School Athletics

THREE PLAYERS WHO CAN DETERMINE HOW FAR HOUSTON WILL GO IN TSSAA FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS

WYNSTON WILCOX

Commercial Appeal | 10/27/2023