With first and goal from the six yd line and running out of a Capital I backfield, Houston could only muster 5 yards in four plays and turned the ball over to the Dragons on downs. Outstanding defensive effort was made by Brett Rogers, Taylor Krag, Jordan Whitten, Garrison Smith, Grant Hall, Nash Jackson, and Andrew White on the four successive downs. This goal line stand was probably Collierville’s defensive zenith of the year and was Houston’s offensive nadir with seven different Dragon players dominating the line of scrimmage on four successive downs.

In the shadow of the goal line, Sr RB Jordan Pedron carried the ball on Power right out to the 4 yd line to give the Dragons a little offensive working room. Jr RB Noel Moyes moved the ball to the 8 yard line on successive carries but was stymied in reaching a first down. From his own end zone, Brock Merryman’s punt was blocked by an outstanding play by a Houston specialist….Merryman made a good play in swatting the ball out of the back of the end zone to ensure a safety and preventing a Houston touchdown, a key 5 point swing at this juncture of the game. Houston led 2 – 0.

Houston returned the kickoff to their 48 for excellent starting field position. The defense continued where it left off with a key third down play by Sr LB Andrew White who had a timely hit in the Houston backfield to force a punt. Sr DB Tyler McMillon and Soph DE Brett Rogers pressured the Houston punter into a poor punt setting the Dragons up on offense at their own 30 yd line. On third down from the 30, Sr QB Brian Hall sprinted down to the 42 yd line on a QB Draw. Two plays later, QB Hall hit Sr WR Taylor Walker for an apparent touchdown that was questionably ruled out of bounds by an official. Hall then hit Sr WR Jonathon Abel on an inside screen where the senior receiver fought for a Dragon first down with tough YACs (yards after catch). The offense began to click and with the ball on the Houston 6 yd line, the Dragons called QB Draw from the Shotgun and Brian Hall sprinted between the perfectly executed goal line blocks of Sr T Scott Eller, Jr TE Grant Hall and Sr RB Jordan Pedron for Collierville’s first score of the night. Brett Caldwell’s kick was good and with 5:58 remaining in the second quarter, the Dragons led 7 – 2. Brett Caldwell then resumed his custom of kicking into the end zone for no offensive return thus setting up Houston first and ten at the 20 yd line. The Dragon D continued to exert its influence over the Mustang offense but aided by two Dragon penalties for 20 yards, Houston moved the ball to the 46 yd line. The Mustangs then could only muster six yards in six offensive plays due to aggressive defensive efforts by Jr DB Jason Smith, Sr LB Andrew White, Sr DT Jordan Whitten, Sr DE Neil Hillis, Jr LB Casey Shockey, and Jr DB Josh McMillon. The Mustangs were forced to kick a 45 yd field goal. With 1:55 remaining in the second period the score stood at Dragons 7, Mustangs 5.

Brian Hall returned the kickoff to the 25 yd line to set up the Dragon 2-Minute Offense. After a Quick Out to Taylor Walker and a QB Draw, the Dragons faced a third and one situation. Running behind excellent blocking of Jordan Whitten and Matt Fields, Noel Moyes gained the first down at the 38. With outstanding point of attack blocking by Scott Eller and Jordan Pedron, Brian Hall was led through a gaping hole by a pulling Nash Jackson who escorted Brian Hall all the way down to the Houston 26 yard line .On the next play and behind excellent pass protection, Brian Hall calmly hit Taylor Walker in the end zone for the touchdown with 32.7 seconds left on the first half clock. Brett Caldwell’s PAT was good and the Dragons led 14 – 5. Caldwell’s kick off sailed into the end zone and after one Houston play, the Dragons took the lead and all of the momentum into the locker room for halftime.

Houston attempted a trick play on the second half kickoff but the pooch kick intended to be caught by a sprinting Houston player fell harmlessly out of bounds. The majority of the third quarter saw the Dragons and the Mustangs trade offensive series that never really threatened either goal line. Into the fourth quarter, Houston was trying to make something happen. Four offensive plays resulted in -22 yds for the Mustangs. The main sources of the Houston’s anguish in those downs were Andrew White, Brett Rogers, Casey Shockey, Laine Halfacre, and Ben Huff. The ultimate anguish was provided by Tyler McMillon who sacked Houston’s Zach Miller all the way back to the Mustang 32 yd line as Miller attempted to pass on a fake punt.

The Dragon Offense took over and in six plays (and with a key offensive fumble recovery by Andrew White!) Sr FB Cody McMeans punched it in for another Collierville TD. Brett Caldwell’s PAT was perfect and the Dragons were in complete control, leading 21 – 5 with 1:46 remaining in the game.

Following the kick off, Houston’s QB was intercepted on first down by Sr DB Brock Merryman who returned the ball to the Houston 22 yd line. Dragon QB Brian Hall then tried to run the game clock out by “taking a knee” on two successive snaps but the Houston coaching staff inexplicably began calling timeouts. Thus, the Dragons were forced to play for positive yards and a first down in order to maintain control of the ball. On the second play for positive yards, Sr FB Cody McMeans sprinted 17 yds virtually untouched on a Fullback Draw for another Dragon touchdown. With Brett Caldwell’s PAT good, the Dragons led 28-5 with 19.3 seconds remaining in the game. The last play of the game found the Mustang QB being intercepted by a hustling Tyler McMillon who returned the ball to the Houston 11 yd line as the game clock expired.