Klifton Willis + Tatum’s Defense Stifle Center, 17-0

CENTER -- East Texas' interceptions leader was at it again Friday night at Roughrider Stadium.

Senior safety Klifton Willis picked off three passes as Tatum intercepted five in a 17-0 shutout of Center that pushed the Eagles' record to 4-0.

Willis enters next week's home game against Diboll with an East Texas-best eight interceptions.

Tatum picked off Center quarterback Caiden Rainbolt five times and held the Roughriders to 134 total yards. Meanwhile, Tatum's offense leaned on the running game, which got 103 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries from senior Jaylen Shans, who also caught four passes for 25 yards.

Sophomore quarterback J.D. Taylor ran 13 times for 99 yards and a touchdown. Taylor completed 6 of 11 passes for 63 yards and two interceptions.

Center (0-5) held Tatum to an even 300 yards, but the Eagles ran for 237 yards on 40 rushes for an average of almost six yards per carry.

Rainbolt completed 10 of 29 passes for 73 yards, while Center's Josh Burns caught four passes for a game-high 42 passes. Teammate Delvin Whitaker nine carries for 34 yards.

Both teams suffered five turnovers. Tatum's were three fumbles and the aforementioned two picks.

Center travels to Corrigan-Camden next week.

-- Stats courtesy Center Light & Champion