The final game of the Whitehaven Classic is over as Whitehaven beat Mitchell, 27-0, in the battle of the Tigers.

In the first game, Hamilton defeated Hillcrest 32-14 and in the second game the Fairley Bulldogs beat Westwood 49-0.

MUS hung on for a 13-12 win in the final game of the BRIDGES Classic.

Melrose scored on the final play of the game to make the score, 13-12, but the Golden Wildcats’ two-point conversion failed.

MUS jumped out to an early 7-0 on Barry Brunetti’s 3-yard TD run. Melrose drove to the MUS 2-yard line on its opening drive, but came away empty.

Later, MUS added a two field goals by Christian Kauffman.

Melrose scored on a 5-yard TD pass by Darrell Washington from Tromarcus Toney, but the two point conversion failed.

MUS star receiver Taylor Reed has an injury and is out for the game. The injury appears to be a broken collarbone.

Three games have been completed at the Liberty Bowl.
CBHS edged White Station, 10-7, on Jeff Sexton’s 33 field goal with 39 seconds in the game.
Earlier Ridgeway defeated Covington, 26-15, and St. George’s beat BTW, 35-0.
Melrose and MUS meet in the final game of the night.

The Tigers broke camp Saturday after a workout at Christian Brothers High School. It’s been a camp filled with too many injuries (losses at left guard of starter Terrence Echols and backup Michael Denning to MCL sprains; hamstring problems for junior college transfer running back Gregory Ray; hyperextended elbow for cornerback Michael Grandberry; shoulder injury for juco transfer defensive lineman Tim McGee and continued rehab from offseason surgery for running back T.J. Pitts and linebacker/defensive back Josh Weaver).

But preparations continue for the season and Saturday’s season-opener at Ole Miss.

Here’s a quick recap of preseason camp:

MUST BE THE FEET: Speaking of injuries, Tiger coach Tommy West said his team has been beset by foot injuries, with a number of people spending various amounts of time in protective boots, among them receiver Steven Black and defensive tackle Freddie Barnett. “We’re having a lot of those for some reason,” West said. Black has returned to practice and Barnett should be ready Tuesday when the team reconvenes for Ole Miss preparations.

WHEN WILL T.J. PLAY? It’s a question West was asked once every several days as junior running back T.J. Pitts was unable to practice. Pitts did not practice once during camp. Instead he spent time on the sidelines rehabbing from three ankle surgeries following a broken ankle in the New Orleans Bowl. So when will he return? “It’s hard to put a time on T.J. I know he’s better now than when we started practicing. But I don’t know. I don’t anticipate him playing in the opening game. I hope to have him back by the third game.”

MOST TELLING CONCERN: West is concerned about an offensive line that was considered a strength entering preseason camp, but has been hampered by injuries. In addition to Echols and Denning, several others are battling minor problems. “I’m concerned about it right now, I really am. I hope to get some people back. (Ronald) Leary and Lionel Henderson (are hurt), Brent Todd hurt his foot (Friday).”

MOST IMPRESSIVE VETERAN OF THE CAMP (OFFENSE): Tiger offensive lineman Brandon Pearce, who not only brought focus and intensity each session, but displayed vocal leadership, too.

MOST IMPRESSIVE VETERAN OF THE CAMP (DEFENSE): Tiger defensive lineman Clinton McDonald, who brought the same tangibles to the defensive front.

MOST IMPRESSIVE NEWCOMER (OFFENSE): Tiger true freshman receiver Marcus Rucker, who attended Whitehaven High, put together his own highlight film during the three-week session.

MOST IMPRESSIVE NEWCOMER(S) (DEFENSE): Defensive backs Clay Lee, a freshman from Orlando, and D.A. Griffin, a transfer from Itawamba (Miss.) Community College, showed up repeatedly in scrimmages and practices.

FUNNIEST STORY OF PRESEASON CAMP: West was asked about juco transfer Tim McGee’s scheduled MRI during the final week of camp. Said West: “Believe it or not, they first couldn’t do the MRI because they couldn’t fit him in there. His shoulders were too big. Then they took him to an open MRI and he’s so big they couldn’t get a read on his (shoulder). Now we’re going to do a test where they put dye in him.”

BEST EXCHANGE OF THE CAMP: West was joking with reporters after a late-week practice at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium about always having questions, but never any answers. He was asking if the media had any strength-and-conditioning tips for preventing foot injuries: “You guys are no help whatsoever. You’ve just got questions, you ain’t got any answers. I want your job.”
Reporter: Can we get your salary?
West: No . . . that was a good one. I liked that.

SECOND-BEST EXCHANGE OF THE CAMP: West commented on Penny Hardaway’s $1 million donation to the school Thursday that will go toward the constructions of an athletic Hall of Fame and Hardaway’s class. And then he was asked if knew of anyone who had played for him at the U of M (see: DeAngelo Williams) that would be so inclined to give back: “I got one in mind. I haven’t left him a message, but I’m going to and left him know what Penny did. (DeAngelo’s) tight now. But I still have some things I can probably threaten him with.”

THIRD-BEST EXCHANGE OF THE CAMP: West, after being told the Ole Miss Rebels seem to lose a defensive lineman at the same rate the Tigers are losing offensive linemen: “That’s awful nice of them . . . I appreciate that.”