Photo by Roger Cotton
With a new offense and new gray uniforms, the Dragons were ready to battle the Bolton Wildcats on a hot, humid Friday night in Collierville.
Collierville started the game strong with Austin Hall’s 71-yard kickoff return to the Wildcat’s four yard line. Two plays later, All-District quarterback Alex Hicks threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Seth Williams for the Dragons to go up 7-0.
Bolton responded with a six-play, 79-yard touchdown drive with the PAT that was no good for a Collierville 7-6 lead. After a 23-yard kickoff return by Hall, Collierville had great position at mid-field.
On the 10-play, 55-yard drive, the Dragons had a few tricks up their sleeves. In punt formation, Collierville executed a 25-yard pass play from Hicks to Chris Parrino to keep the drive alive. The Dragons scored on a fourth down reverse by Drew Van de Vuurst for the 29-yard touchdown run to give the Dragons a 14-6 lead.
In the second quarter, an interception by BJ Carrothers gave the Dragons the ball on the Wildcat 27 yard line. Collierville scored on a 22-yard Dillon Scott field goal to give the Dragons an 11-point lead, but the Dragon offense wasn’t finished with scoring before halftime.
On the next Collierville offensive series, the seven- play, 49-yard drive capped off with Hicks connecting with JV Springer for a three-yard touchdown. Halftime score: Collierville 24, Bolton 6.
Bolton started the third quarter with a 13-play, 71-yard touchdown drive that took eight minutes off the clock. The PAT was no good and Collierville’s lead was cut to 12.
The following series, Collierville put together a long sustaining drive of their own with a 13-play drive ending with a 22 yard field goal from Scott to make the score Collierville leading 27-12 early in the fourth quarter.
A few series later, a 30-yard field goal by Scott gave the Dragons a commanding 18-point lead.
The defense held strong with defensive back Ryan Stanfill picking off a Wildcat pass with a 21-yard return. Late in the fourth quarter, the Wildcats put together an 11-play, 80-yard drive with an eight-yard touchdown run with the PAT that was no good.
With under a minute remaining in the game, Collierville ran out the clock for the final score; Collierville 30, Bolton 18.
Written by Steven Jenkins, special to the Express.
