Photos by Nikki Boertman/The Commercial Appeal Whitehaven running back Kylan Watkins, who scored three touchdowns in the No. 1 Tigers' 27-8 victory over previously unbeaten and third-ranked Ridgeway on Friday night at Halle Stadium, tries to get away from the Roadrunners' Noah Spann.

By John Varlas of The Commercial Appeal

Defense is officially back at Whitehaven High.

The Tigers, ranked first in The Commercial Appeal's Dandy Dozen, shut down Ridgeway's high-flying offense while wearing the No. 3 Roadrunners down with an impressive ground game to win, 27-8.

Whitehaven (4-0) held the city's top-ranked offense to just 236 yards. Ridgeway came into the game averaging more than 462.7 yards per game.

Kylan Watkins was the workhorse for Whitehaven, carrying the ball 29 times for 256 yards and scoring on runs of 13, 10 and 8. Tyrone Cason had a three-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Ridgeway's lone score came in the first quarter when Tyrique Sandusky connected with Vincent Taylor on a 50-yarder.

Thank you @WhitehavenTiger FB TEAM! Job.Well.Done! #on2the➡️

— Faragi Phillips (@faragi11) September 10, 2016

The victory kept the Tigers on a collision course with second-ranked Cordova, which improved to 4-0 with an easy 41-0 win over Booker T. Washington.

No. 4 CBHS survived a scare from Houston before winning, 41-21. Quarterback Keegan Voss ran for 184 yards and had touchdowns of 47 and 19 as the Brothers (3-1) rolled up 506 yards of total offense. Will Ruth ran for 109 yards and two scores.

Terrell Tatum and J.C. Reynolds returned interceptions 80 and 76 yards for Houston touchdowns.

Fifth-ranked Trezevant lost on the road to Nashville Ensworth, 54-14.

No. 6 MUS (4-0) posted an impressive 27-7 victory over previously undefeated Grenada-Miss. Steven Regis had scoring passes of 9 yards to Jalon Love and 31 to Maurice Hampton to lead the Owls, who host South Panola next week.

Eric Gray had a huge game as No. 7 Lausanne (3-0) tuned up for next week's showdown against Harding with a 41-21 victory over Bolton. The sophomore ran for 105 yards, scoring on runs of 3, 1 and 10 and caught touchdowns of 40 and 30 yards from Mario Nolan-Dillard.

Lausanne with the 41-20 victory over Bolton. @johnvarlas #RTG #GoLynx pic.twitter.com/W5aHCTiK5i

— Lausanne Athletics (@LausanneLynx) September 10, 2016

Bolton's touchdowns came on Ryan Bevel passes of 81 and 45 yards to Demarco Morgan.

No. 9 Briarcrest moved to 4-0 with a 41-28 win over Germantown.

Raleigh-Egypt is 4-0 for the first time in school history, overcoming an early 13-0 deficit to defeat Melrose, 26-21.

Raleigh Egypt 4-0 first time in history. Defense led the way @REpharaohs @CedHenderson9 @CalebGates2018 @johnvarlas pic.twitter.com/VFZE0lzKMJ

— Mark Green (@mgreen56) September 10, 2016

Collierville rolled up 47 first-half points in a 60-14 win over Millington. Peyton McKay had 139 yards and two scores while Matt Connors had a 6-yard run and touchdown passes of 45 yards to Alex Smith and 34 to Ryan Dougherty.

Bartlett rebounded from last week's loss to Cordova with a 42-6 victory over Oakhaven. Marquavious Weaver had a 53-yard touchdown run and D'Vocia Walker added a 60-yard pick-six.

Trevor Forbes had two touchdown runs and Ryan Tipton had a 72-yard interception return as White Station kept Olive Branch winless, 36-28. The Qusitors got kickoff return touchdowns from Jaylon Gale (99 yards) and Cameron Pleas (89) in the second half.

Lataryl Rutherford had interception returns of 100 and 60 yards and Kameron Williams threw three touchdown passes as Southwind coach Rahnmann Slocum defeated his former school Fairley, 40-0.

He Had Some Ric Flair Type Moments!!! Wooo Ric Flair https://t.co/cNB0SmSs7m

— Coach R. Slocum (@mo_2_vate) September 10, 2016

Corey Jones set the St. George's single-game receiving record with 258 yards on nine catches as the Gryphons rolled past ECS, 49-14. Jones had touchdown grabs of 63, 30 and 81 yards from Ben Glass, who also threw a 31-yard score to Chase Hayden.

Dewayne Betts threw scoring passes of 40, 61, 17 and 37 yards to Orreon Finley -- all in the first half -- as KIPP pounded Martin Luther King Prep, 68-6. Josh Williams ran for 147 yards and two scores (32, 55).

Tyler Thweatt ran for 167 yards and two touchdowns to lead Northpoint past Magnolia Heights, 28-13. Tipton-Rosemark ran past Macon Road Baptist, 62-22 as Jose Flores sored twice.

About John Varlas

John Varlas is the preps reporter at The Commercial Appeal. He covers all high school sports in the Memphis and Shelby County area.

• @johnvarlas
• john.varlas@commercialappeal.com
• 901-529-2350