In a game of continuous momentum shifts, the Houston Mustangs capitalized on three big plays to top our beloved Dragons 20-17.  Before a standing-room only crowd, Collierville entertained football purists with a bruising ground game and smash-mouth defense, while Houston kept pace rattling off big plays with their backs against the wall.

After both teams traded punts, Collierville drew first blood behind a 78 yard TD pass from QB Derek Pacileo to WR Bart Smith.  Houston’s ensuing drive again stalled as Defensive End Harrison Bizzell sacked Mustang QB Mike Burel for a 5 yard loss on 3rd down.  The Dragons were again driving until an interception by Houston brought the ball to the Collierville 40.  Linebacker Eric Burrus tackled Mustang RB Tavin Davis for a 1 yard loss, forcing 4th down and 5 yards to go, when Houston hit its first big play behind TB Matt Gilbert’s thirteen yard scamper to the Collierville 12 yard line.  Keeping the ball on the ground, Houston pounded the ball into the end zone in four tries, knotting the game at 7 points apiece.

Collierville regained momentum on its next offensive series.  Behind a huge hole created by the offensive line, Pacileo kept the ball on an option for a 27-yard gain.  Halfback Zack Palmer added 19 yards on a well-executed counter.  Running back Jason Goins finished the drive bulldozing defenders for a 9 yard touchdown run.  PAT good, Collierville leads 14-7 with 2:32 left in the half.  Houston turned the tide on the very next play as KR Gilbert rattled off a 99 yard return, tying the score at 14 points apiece with just 2:16 left in the half.  Forcing a punt after 3 plays, Houston appeared to take the momentum after TB Gilbert rattled off 10 yards and a first down to the Houston 45 yard line.  The Dragon defense held as blitzing Linebacker Christian Bossert sacked Mustang QB Burel for a 4 yard loss, knocking him out of the game.  Tackle Tyler Hammers “hammered” Houston TB Davis causing a fumble, adeptly recovered by Defensive End Austin Laine.  But the Dragons were unable to capitalize with only 12 seconds left in the half, keeping both teams even at 14 points headed into the locker room.

The second half began with Houston’s best offensive series of the night.  Running off tackle, Houston backs pounded out four consecutive first downs moving deep into Dragon territory.  On 3rd and 1 yard to go at the Dragon 26 yard line, Collierville LB Bossert smashed through the Mustang line to drop TB Davis for a 3 yard loss.  Forced to attempt a 39 yard field goal, Houston’s kicker missed left keeping the score knotted.

Collierville’s first possession of the second half saw one of its best drives of the night.  Runs by Pacileo and Goins moved the chains steadily until Pacileo hit WR Garrett Bizzell with a 35 yard bomb to the Mustang 22 yard line.  Scrambling for his life on 3rd down, Pacileo hit TE Blake Reed for a 10 yard gain to the 5 yard line.  Houston’s defense held the line on the next 3 plays, forcing a 16 yard field goal that Kicker Justin Adair put straight through the uprights on the first play of the 4th Quarter to put Collierville ahead 17-14.

Starting at its own 20 yard line, Houston’s drive appeared to stall until the Mustangs were awarded a first down on a questionable pass interference call.  Backup Houston QB Cunningham then broke free on a 65 yard TD run to put the Mustangs up 20-17, its third big play of the evening.  An excessive celebration penalty put the PAT attempt out of range for Houston’s kicker, giving Collierville a chance to tie with a field goal.     

Collierville went nowhere on its next offensive series and punted to Houston with just over 5 minutes remaining.  Houston followed with a 3 and out and punted the ball to the Collierville 2 yard line with 3:52 remaining in the game.  Mixing the running game with the passing game, QB Pacileo drove the ball to the Collierville 45 yard line by hitting wideout Garrett Bizzell twice, for 12 and 15 yards respectively.  With only 13.7 seconds remaining, Pacileo took the snap and was forced to scramble, hitting flanker Andrew Richmond in stride for a 32 yard gain to the 23 yard line.  Unfortunately for the Dragons and ace Kicker Adair, the buzzer sounded as the clock hit zero when Richmond was tackled.  The game was a classic match between two well-coached teams and lived up to its hype. 

The Dragon defense was solid with a plethora of memorable hits, and the offense showed steady improvement over the first three games.  Unofficially, Garrett Bizzel led the team in receptions with 3 catches for 60 yards; QB Derek Pacileo led the ground game with 12 carries for 77 yards, followed by RB Jason Goins with 12 carries for 34 yards.  Collierville gained 189 yards passing, and 134 yards rushing for a total of 319 yards.