Power outage can't stop Whitehaven football in Week 1 blowout of Central

Whitehaven football coach Rodney Saulsberry Sr. knew he needed a lights-out performance in the season opener, with his program coming off its first two-year playoff drought since 1989.

Little did he know it would happen literally and figuratively.

A little more than three minutes into the second half — with the first game of this year’s Whitehaven Classic between Mitchell and Westwood pushing Whitehaven's kickoff against Central to after 8 p.m. — the timer-based stadium lights automatically shut off at 10 p.m., setting off a frenzy of fun but chaotic energy among coaches, players, and fans.

Despite the delay, nothing could stop the momentum of the Tigers, who rolled over Central 34-0 for their 17th consecutive victory in the Whitehaven Classic and a statement blowout to put the rest of Region 8-6A on notice after they had been predicted to finish third-to-last by the Commercial Appeal.

On the Tigers' first offensive play, junior quarterback Jaden Thomas hit junior wideout Cameron Jackson for a 45-yard touchdown pass. Whitehaven, known for its assembly-line type production of Division I defensive prospects, is stout once again up front the defensive line with seniors Rickshun Wilson and Tavarious Elliot, who is committed to Southeastern Missouri State. Both recorded a tackle for loss and led the smothering of Central's offense, forcing a fumble on QB Hays Wright in the second quarter and allowed only two first downs in the first half.

Junior running back Christopher Tally had a breakout performance, totaling more than 150 rushing yards and three touchdowns despite not seeing the field in the fourth quarter. Tally, the 2023 Class AAA 110-meter hurdles state champion, bounced off through tackles and outran defenders all night, and has the looks of Whitehaven's next high-major Division I prospect, in the vein of 2019 Whitehaven graduates Keveon Mullins (who went to South Carolina, then transferred to Jackson State) and Devin Boddie Jr. (who went to Vanderbilt, then transferred to Wyoming).

"C2, as we affectionately call him, he's a big-time ball player," Saulsberry said. "The speed is something special, and he runs that ball hard. As a collective, our offense can really be explosive with him leading us in the backfield."

You can contact writer Josh Crawford @joshua.crawford@commercialappeal.com, or via X @JCrawford5656

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Power outage can't stop Whitehaven football in Week 1 blowout of Central