Three weeks ago, Houston football survived vs. then-undefeated Collierville in the regular season finale after losing quarterback Chandler Day to a first-quarter injury.

On Friday, after a week of rest and one of fighting through the shoulder injury, Day returned to full strength to help Houston crush Collierville 33-14 in the Class 6A TSSAA football playoffs quarterfinals.

Houston (11-2) advances to the semifinals next Friday vs. visiting Ravenwood (13-0), which defeated Stewarts Creek 38-14.

"I think I was a little hesitant last week," said Day, a Tennessee baseball signee. "Tonight felt like how it was supposed to be the first time. (Collierville) put up a great fight, though."

Meanwhile Ladeadrick James continue to emerge in the playoffs at running back.

For the bulk of the season, junior running back Celley Davis had been the team's sole ball carrier. But as coach James Thomas knows from last season's 6A championship run, it takes everyone, especially when it comes to running the ball.

"When it gets cold, you better pack a defense and pack a running game because that always travels," Thomas said. "We've been doing that and we're going to continue to."

James, a three-star senior athlete, featured often at wide receiver earlier in the season and saw few carries in games leading up to November. In recent weeks, the team has deployed him almost exclusively as a running back and it's working.

"We kinda saved him for the playoffs and now he's got fresh legs and he's doing things on both sides of the ball," Thomas said. "Anytime (James) touches the ball, he can take it the distance. I love the way he's playing right now."

James' Friday night carries didn't end in the end zone, but his 10 carries for 124 yards, most of which came in the first half, set up two short rushing touchdowns for Day. The strong running game meant just 11 passing attempts for Day, who completed four for 98 yards and a touchdown.

"We put him in a tough spot asking him to come in at running back late in the year but he's picked it up really fast," Day said of James.

"It's simple," James said. "I know my skillset, my coaches know my skillset probably better than I know it. They just know the right moments to use me. You just give me the ball and I make plays. That's the easy part."

James has carried for over 100 yards in three straight weeks. Receiver DJ Miller added three catches for 96 yards.