Ringgold rolled past Dalton on Saturday, April 28 as the Tigers took over Bill Harmon Field in the "Clash for a Cause" alumni game.

The Blue-and-White, who had lost 41 of the past 42 games against the Cats in high school action, edged Dalton, 21-20.

David Gann, who served as one of the Ringgold coaches, said it was definitely a big night to celebrate for the Tigers, who last recorded a victory over Dalton in a 10-6 decision on Sept. 30, 1983.

“This is just very exciting for the kids," he said. "Dalton has always had a great football team. We’ve been looking forward to getting the chance to beat them.”

Gann, who was recently named the North Murray head football coach, said all proceeds will be split between Ringgold and Dalton.

Chris White struck first for the Cats. The 2011 graduate caught an 80-yard touchdown pass with 7:35 to play in the second quarter from his father, 1981 graduate, Charlie Wilson. The kick was no good.

“It will be the last opportunity that I will ever have to throw a touchdown pass to my son,” Pete Wilson said. “It was really special. To be honest, I just threw it up. He’s a big boy, and he did all the hard work.”

“I think every pass he threw was right on the money,” Charlie Wilson said.

Pete Wilson did not get to play in last year’s alumni game, when Northwest beat Dalton 14-6, and said he and some of the “older” alumni made a pact.

“It was a great experience,” Pete Wilson said. “On the bus coming over, a couple of us older guys said, ‘You know. We’re going to die living instead of live dying.’ Tonight we lived.”

Ringgold responded with with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Zach Fairchild to Jared Cooper. Adam Rainwater split the uprights to make the score 7-6.

Fairchild, who admitted he was “a little nervous” said it was a relief getting a score.

“This was just really exciting,” he said. “There was a lot of hype coming into the game…but it was just good to get to play in a Ringgold uniform again.”

Cooper said he couldn’t be more pleased wih scoring the first touchdown.

“It felt good,” he said. “It definitely brought back the good old days. And it’s always fun playing Dalton.”

Corey McKenzie came through with a big interception and Dowden iced the cake with an 11-yard touchdown run two plays later.

Rainwater's PAT was good.

From there the Tigers never looked back.

Devin Golden of the Daily Citizen contributed to this story.