Collierville football rallies with backup QB to stun unbeaten Clarksville in TSSAA playoffs

CLARKSVILLE — Down 12 points with seven minutes to play and down its three-star quarterback prospect, Collierville football needed a miracle. Grant Troutman provided one.

Troutman stepped in for the injured Aidan Glover and led the Dragons to a 23-22 comeback victory over previously unbeaten Clarksville on Friday in the first round of the TSSAA football playoffs.

Collierville (8-3), the fourth seed in Region 8-6A, will take on Houston (9-2) in next Friday's second round. The Dragons are looking for their first quarterfinal berth since 1996.

Glover, a Missouri commit, was hurt on a sack midway through the fourth quarter. He had completed just 1 of 10 passes and thrown two interceptions.

Thrown into the fire, Troutman rose to the occasion. On his first snap, he completed a 57-yard touchdown pass to Joakim Dodson, cutting the Wildcats' lead to 22-17.

Collierville's defense forced Clarksville (10-1) to punt with two minutes left, and Troutman led the Dragons 68 yards down the field, capping off the drive with a quarterback sneak to go ahead with 40 seconds to play.

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The Wildcats drove to midfield on their final drive, but Wesley Jackson dragged down Jack Wyatt for a sack on the last play of the game.

Troutman went 4-of-5 for 106 yards and a touchdown. The junior had a 14-yard scramble on the game-winning drive, in addition to his touchdown.

John Hampton rushed for 110 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries.

Jacob Shames can be reached by email at jshames@gannett.com and on Twitter @Jacob_Shames.