ARTICLE BY JAMES HINTE

Following an emotional win against rival Germantown, the Dragons came in to week three looking to continue their winning ways against Overton High.  With this game also being homecoming the stands were packed with past and present Dragon fans all of whom would not be disappointed.

The Collierville offense started out slow going three and out on their first two possessions however as has been the case so far this season, the Dragons defense did their part to help get the scoring started.  After starting with great field position set up by a 30 yard kick return by Grayson Hinte, Andrew Richmond’s punt  was downed at the 13 yard line.  On first down Bradley Rogers, Zach Jackson and Keaton Stigger stopped the Overton running back for a minimal gain that would serve notice the defense had come to play.  On second down, Bart Smith picked off an over thrown pass at the 26 and was slung out of bounds at the one yard line.  Al Burriss took the first and goal hand off and followed Mike Mancini and Nathan Ring into end zone for the Dragons score.  The kick was good by Taylor Nelson and at the 9:20 mark of the first quarter the score was 7-0.

Nelson’s kick went through the end zone for a touch back and the Wolverines started with first and ten at the 20.  John White and Jackson stopped the first down run for no gain and Drew Moyes made solo tackles on the next two plays forcing Overton to punt on fourth and seven.  Moyes picked up 13 yards on the punt return and the Dragons again started with good field position at the Overton 48.  After an exchange of possession, Moyes returned the punt to the Dragons 35 and the Dragons offense finally came to life.  Bart Smith picked up 11 yards on first down and on the next play Burriss went around the left end picking up 35 yards down to the 19.  Gabe Bouldien picked up four yards on first down and the Dragons went back to Burriss on second down.  John Huffman and Nathan Ring cleared the way and Burriss went 15 yards for his second touchdown of the night.  Nelson’s kick was good and Dragons were up 14-0 with 2:37 left in the first quarter.

Nelson continued to demonstrate his strong leg sending his second kick into the end zone for another touch back.  After a first down incompletion Stigger sacked the Overton quarterback for a three yard loss.  On third and thirteen, Overton ran a draw play that showed promise however as Stigger closed in for the tackle the running back dropped the ball and Stigger recovered the fumble at the 23.  With no delay, the Dragons looked to capitalize on the turnover going to the air on first down.   Bouldien found Richmond wide open in the end zone and with less than minute elapsed from their previous score the Dragons tacked on seven more and with 1:33 remaining in the first quarter the rout was on.

The kick off was taken at the one yard line and after fighting off three blocks, Hinte made the tackle at the 28 yard line.  Overton completed a short pass on first down and after a 13 yard gain Josh Simpson and Evan Stock made the tackle at the 41.  Stigger and Justin Lis combined to tackle the Overton quarterback for a one yard loss and the first quarter came to an end.  On second and eleven the Wolverines went back to the air, however Chase Presson got in the back field for a solo sack and minus eight yards.  After an incomplete pass on third down, Overton punted and the Dragons took over at their own 35.

After an encroachment penalty gave the Dragons a first and five, Eric Smith picked up the first down with a five yard run.  The drive appeared to be sputtering after an incomplete pass and a three yard loss, however on third and thirteen Bouldien connected with Bart Smith for a short pass and Smith did the rest going 58 yards for a touchdown.  The score was now 28-0 with 9:38 left to play in the second quarter.

Another touch back by Nelson put the Wolverines in familiar territory with a first and ten at the 20.  Jackson and Mancini combined for a tackle and a two yard loss in between two incomplete passes and again Overton punted.  Moyes called for a fair catch at the Overton 45.  On the first two plays, Eric Smith and Bouldien picked up three and two yards respectively and on third and five Bouldien handed off to Hinte who followed Ring around the right side for a 17 yard gain giving the Dragons a first down at the 21.  Out of the wish bone set, Moyes ran behind the blocking of Eric Smith and Hinte for eleven yards.  Eric Smith picked up nine more and on second and goal at the one, Hinte broke free from a Wolverine tackler and went in for the score.  With just under six minutes remaining in the first half Collierville’s lead was now 35-0.

The two teams alternated possessions with the Dragon defense continuing it’s  domination with two more stops without yielding a first down.  After a weaving punt return by Moyes to the Overton 46, quarterback John White picked up 11 yards and the Dragons appeared to be on the move again.  However after two short gains by Lis and Lane Ferrell the Dragons fumbled and the half came to an end.

To start the second half, Nelson continued with his best performance of the year sending the kick into the end zone for another touchback.  Moyes tipped the first down pass away for an incompletion and then on second down Overton connected on a pass for 35 yards.  The Wolverines were in Dragon territory for the first time of the game.  The long pass play woke up the Dragon defense and after an incompletion and a two yard tackle for a loss by Simpson, Bart Smith picked off the Overton pass that was tipped by Richmond.  A block in the back penalty negated a 24 yard return by Smith however Collierville maintained possession on the interception and started at their 25. 

With their first drive of the second half, the Dragons offense continued to roll.  Bouldien picked up eight on first down and after a short loss on second, Burriss picked up 14 yards for a first down.  Bart Smith rumbled for 28 on the next play down to the Wolverine 27.  After a short gain by Eric Smith, Bouldien executed an excellent play action fake that completely fooled Overton and found Adam White all alone for a 25 yard touchdown pass extending the lead to 42-0.

Nelson drove the kick through the end zone and once again Overton started at the 20.  On first down Mike Skirius broke through the line and forced the quarterback to throw early.  The screen pass was doomed from the start and Burriss and Lis finished the play with a tackle at the line of scrimmage.  On second down Skirius and Stock made the tackle after a six yard gain.  After no gain on third, Overton was set to punt, however the snapped was dropped and the punter fell down at the twenty. 

Davis Moore came in as quarterback for the drive and carried on the first down going around the left end behind the blocking of Josh Simpson for nine yards.  Cameron Waller picked up two on the next play to give the Dragons first and goal at the nine.  The third quarter ended and the teams switched ends.  Ferrell picked up six on the next play and Waller completed the drive with a burst into the end zone for the score.  Nelson’s kick was good and the score was 49-0 with 10:20 left in the game.

Possibly suffering from a case of fatigue, Nelson popped up the ensuing kick and Overton started the drive at the 27.  After two incomplete passes, Skirius came in from right end and hit the quarterback as he released the ball.  Burriss broke on the errant pass for an interception and returned it to the Overton 26.  Chad Brown picked up one on first down and Ferrell gained seven more on second setting up third and 2 from the 18.  Nick Elo took the next play around the right end behind the blocking of Chris Emeagwai and Josh Stovall and went in the for another Dragons Score.  The Dragons extended their lead to 56-0.

After the kick the Wolverines mounted their best drive of the night culminating in a 50 yard touchdown pass.  These were the first points relinquished by the Collierville defense this year.  The two point conversion failed and the game ended with the Dragons driving.  The final score Dragons 56, Overton 6.

For the night Al Burriss had his best game of the year gaining 60 yards on six carries and two touchdowns.  He also had one interception.  Bart Smith had a strong game on both sides of the ball with 41 yards on three carries, a 42 yard reception for a touchdown and two interceptions.  Gabe Bouldien gained 23 yards on five carries and went 3-5 passing for ninety yards.  All three completions resulted in touchdowns.  Andrew Richmond had one touchdown reception for 23 yards and Adam White added one for 25 yards.  Cameron Waller and Nick Elo got on the board with one touchdown apiece.  On special teams Taylor Nelson had an outstanding kicking night with eight PAT’s and five kick offs going for touch backs.  Drew Moyes was steady on punt returns picking up 33 yards.  Grayson Hinte had two kick off returns for 44 yards and also had 18 yards on two carries and one touchdown.

On the defensive side Keaton Stigger, Zach Jackson, Drew Moyes, Bradley Rogers and Josh Simpson continued their dominate play.  Mike Skirius had two big plays on the night forcing an interception on one pass rush.

Last week we failed to mention that Gabe Bouldien was recognized by the Commercial Appeal as the offensive player of the week and this week Collierville added a third in a row with Bart Smith winning the accolades. 

Next week the Dragons face their first true test of the season going on the road for their second regional game of the year against the Whitehaven Tigers.