For the Second Time, Tatum’s Klifton Willis is ETSN.fm + Dairy Queen Defensive Player of the Week

Another football game, another chance for Klifton Willis to intercept passes.

Three weeks after picking off a pair of passes, one of which he returned for a touchdown, in Tatum's 45-0 home shutout of Winnsboro, Willis was at it again Friday night in Center.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pound defensive back picked off three passes to spearhead a Tatum defense that accumulated five interceptions in a 17-0 road shutout of Center at Roughrider Stadium.

For the second time this season, Willis is the ETSN.fm/Dairy Queen Defensive Player of the Week.

Willis enters Friday night's home game against Diboll with an East Texas-leading eight interceptions in only four games.

The senior safety got plenty of help, as usual, from his fellow athletic Tatum defenders, who have yielded seven points in their last three games. Junior linebacker Kyshaun Smith had 12 tackles and one interception that he returned for a touchdown. Senior linebacker Demetrius Hill added 12 tackles, while junior defensive back Jordan Helson had 11 tackles, including two for loss.

The Eagles (4-0), who are ranked No. 6 in the latest Associated Press Class 2A poll, have stifled opponents so far this year, allowing only 13 total points in four games and recording two shutouts. Tatum has outscored its first four opponents 125-13.

If Tatum beats Diboll on Friday, the Eagles will roll into next week's District 9-2A Division I opener at home against undefeated White Oak with a 5-0 record to set up a highly-anticipated matchup of district frontrunners.