Following a 17-7 win over Bolton High in a game completely dominated by Collierville’s defense, Dragon Head Coach Paul Cox told his team “Defense wins championships, and a defensive effort like tonight is what can carry us a long way.”   Coach Cox may be rightly proud because the facts justify his assessment: the Dragons’ stingy defense held Bolton to only 7 first downs - giving up 87 yards on the ground and 47 through the air.  An impressive effort versus an offense with talent at all skill positions. 
     Not to be overshadowed, the offense unleashed a punishing ground game, racking up 268 hard-earned yards between the tackles.  Much credit has to go to the offensive line, who consistently opened big holes for 5 - 7 yard gains as the Dragons ran all over the Wildcat defense and most importantly, consistently sustained long drives all night.  “The drives we had tonight were long and time-consuming, which kept our defense resting on the sidelines and wore their defense out,” said Coach Cox. 
     Collierville’s first drive was an Offensive Line Coach’s dream as Dragons Fullback Jason Goins found daylight for 49 yards behind a huge hole created by Left Guard Nathan Ring and Left Tackle Mike Mancini.  Quarterback Derek Pacileo then hit Wide Receiver Garrett Bizzell for a 12 yard strike to the Bolton 16 yard line.  Following two short gains and a Pacileo 5 yard scramble, the Dragons were faced with a fourth down and one on the 5 yard line.  Enter Powerback Eric Burrus, plowing over at least five Bolton defenders while powering into the endzone!  Kicker Jeremy Adair’s PAT good, Collierville leads 7 - 0.
     Bolton answered quickly as Tailback Michael Harris swept around the right side untouched for a 76 yard touchdown run.  PAT good, tying the score at 7 apiece.  
     Collierville’s next possession did not result in a score, but pounded out several first downs in classic “3 yards and a cloud of dust” fashion.  TE Harrison Bizzell, RG Tyler Hammers, and RT Malcolm Todd made key blocks for runs by Zack Palmer and Jason Goins, while TB Bart Smith showed elusiveness for a 9 yard pickup behind the left side mountains Mancini and Ring.  Following a Collierville punt, Bolton went exactly nowhere on 3 tries, then shanked a punt giving the Dragons excellent field position as the first quarter closed.
      The Dragons began the second quarter much as the first - with FB Jason Goins perfectly executing a counter off left tackle Mancini for a 19 yard gain.  Following a short gain on 1st down, FB Goins rambled 21 yards for a TOUCHDOWN in yet another well-executed counter again behind the solid blocking of LT Mancini and LG Ring.  K Adair PAT good, Collierville leads 14-7. 
       Bolton appeared to get its offense on track with a first down on its must answer possession, but Defensive Tackles Mancini and Hammers had other ideas as Collierville stuffed Bolton for no gain bringing up 3rd and 10, then the Dragon tackles followed up with huge pressure on Wildcat QB Connell in forcing an incomplete pass.  Forced to punt, Bolton faced yet another grind-it-out between the tackles drive as Collierville drove to the Bolton 20 behind key gains by TB Bart Smith (9 and 7 yards) and FB Goins’ 8 yard gain.  Dodging a bullet, Bolton recovered a fumble and took possession on its own 20 with 4:40 left until halftime.
      The Dragon D would have none of it. NT Tyler Hammers had a big stop for no gain on 1st down, and paired with DE Harrison Bizzell to pressure the Wildcat QB into throwing the ball away on the next down.  Following another incomplete pass, Bolton was forced to punt - 3 and out. 
     The Dragons again pounded the ball on the ground behind several key plays, this time behind the deft blocking of Center Joe White as Goins gained 8 up the middle and Pacileo kept the option up the middle for 18 yards.  Facing 4th and 1 on the Bolton 40, Coach Cox elected to go for the first down due to the success thus far of the running game and the defense.  It was the right call, despite Collierville being short of first down by an inch.  Turning the ball over to Bolton on downs, the defense would not break as Safety Connor Simmons intercepted the ball to stop Bolton’s last ditch effort as time ran out in the half. 
       Bolton received the kickoff to start the third quarter and made a first down on a 10 yard run.  Facing 3rd and 1 on their own 39, Bolton TB Harris was stuffed for a loss by DE Zach Jackson, DT Jacob Hunter, and LB Christian Bossert.  Busy day for the Bolton punter.
       The offense went back to work with a 7 yard carry by RB Palmer, and a big 1st down gained by RB Chase Presson up the middle behind a great block by C White.  Bolton’s defense held its ground and forced Collierville to punt - a beautiful deep 40 yard boom by punter Andrew Richmond pushed Bolton all the way to its own 38 yard line!  Bolton appeared to be in trouble as defensive back Eric Smith blitzed and tackled the Wildcat TB for a 5 yard loss.  Finding nothing that worked, Bolton resorted to trickery executing the old halfback option pass - hitting a wide open receiver with nothing but end zone in front of him.  Seemingly out of nowhere speedy Dragon CB Jemerious Roach caught Bolton from behind and made a touchdown-saving tackle at the Collierville 12.  The Wildcats fumbled on the next play, recovered by LB Joe White. 
       As the old saying goes you have to “dance with the girl that brung ya,” Collierville ground out a series of first downs the hard way - running between the tackles.  RB’s Presson, Goins, and Bart Smith each had key gains behind the left side and up the middle that ate up the rest of the 3rd quarter.  Grinding out 14 plays to the Collierville 48, the Dragons were unsuccessful executing a fake punt-pass on 4th down, but burned nearly 5 minutes off the 4th quarter.  And with his defense playing so well, Coach Cox knew his risk was mitigated.  The defense would prove him right.  Following no gain on first down, LB Bossert sacked the Wildcat QB for an 8 yard loss.  DE Harrison Bizzell followed with a tackle for a 4 yard loss.  Facing 4th and 27, Bolton would again punt 3 and out. 
      The Dragons made Bolton pay, grinding out back-breaking chunks of earth, keyed by TB’s Bart Smith, Presson, and FB Goins.  K Adair nailed a 43 yard FG to give the Dragons an almost insurmountable lead with just over 3 minutes left in the game, Collierville 17 - 7.
       Running out of time, Bolton took to the air, not completing a pass but aided by a very questionable pass interference call moved to their own 35.  Blitzing LB Zach Jackson sacked QB Connell for a 2 yard loss, then MLB Eric Burrus busted through a middle screen stopping Bolton for a short gain.  Eluding a near sack by LB Bossert, Bolton hit a 15 yd gain and moved the chains.  DT John Huffman put QB Connell back where he spent most of the night - on his back for a 7 yard loss.  Three incomplete passes later, highlighted by a very nice breakup by CB Roach, and Bolton turned the ball over on downs.  Backup QB Gabe Bouldien ran the clock out, DRAGONS WIN!
      The offense was led by FB Jason Goins 14 carries for 139 yds, with TB Chase Presson adding 53 yds and TB Bart Smith gaining 49 of his own.  As has been the story of the season, the offense continued to show significant improvement.  The offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage nearly the entire game, and website game balls go to Tackles Laine Halfacre, Malcolm Todd, and Mike Mancini; Guards Nathan Ring, and Tyler Hammers; Center Joe White; Tight Ends Harrison Bizzell and Blake Reed - all of whom blocked with the skill and precision leading to the 268 rushing yards picked up by the aforementioned skill players.  The story of the game still is the defense, who showed all the fans we indeed have a championship-caliber defense capable of stuffing opposing offenses.