SPORTS ALERT- Saints Survive

Briarcrest wins thriller 29-28 at Christian Brothers to improve to 7-0

MEMPHIS — Riding high off a win over previous unbeaten Southwind, the Briarcrest Saints knew a rivalry showdown was next on the agenda before a clash of titans with Brentwood Academy.Boarding the bus on campus Friday evening to leave Eads, Saints Head Coach Phil Massey gave his players a not so subtle reminder about their opponent the Christian Brothers High School Purple Wave.“We tried to tell our kids that they're a very competitive, very physically tough team,” he said. “They do a great job. Their coaches do a great job so I knew they would be very prepared.”The textbook October conditions of mild temperatures and a mist gave the backdrop to Tom Nix Stadium on Landers Field for a classic. By the time the final whistle blew, the Saints marched out of Memphis still undefeated and survivors of a 29-28 decision.“They played a hard fought game,” Massey said of the Purple Wave. “That’s what we told our kids before we even got on the bus to leave Briarcrest. It’s going to be a dogfight. I wasn’t too sure how much they believed it, but I know they believe it now. Certainly it was a hard-fought high school football game.”Briarcrest (7-0, 2-0 in Division II-3A West) struck first with a Oc…