By Thomas Sellers Jr.
Both the Collierville Dragons and Millington Trojans were trying to avoid starting the 2015 season 1-3.
The Dragons were able to accomplish their goal of a victory on the Mooney Bosewell Field turf using a timely running game and solid defense prevailing 17-7.
Penalties doomed the host Trojans killing a drive early in the third quarter that could have broken a 7-7 deadlock.
The Dragons (2-2) jumped ahead in the first quarter taking advantage of a short field. The Collierville drive started at the 15-yard line. A few players later, Dragon running back Peyton McCay crossed the goal line from a yard out to make the score 7-0 with 3:42 left in the opening quarter.
Millington (1-3) tied the game in the second quarter when running back Keno Taylor took a hand-off inside the 10-yard line. With a huge block from his quarterback Eldon Tyms, Taylor raced into the end zone for the 7-yard TD.
Just before half the Dragons missed a field goal. The next best scoring chance came for the Trojans in the third quarter with a drive down the field. But a personal foul penalty stopped the Millington momentum. The opening drive of the second half ended in a Trojan punt by Tyler Denson.
Collierville quarterback Matt Connors finally got a chance to move his team down the field late in the third quarter. The Dragons’ drive concluded early in the fourth quarter resulting in a Dylan Scott 32-yard field goal to make the score 10-7.
The Dragons iced the game with 4 minutes and 36 seconds remaining when Connors hit receiver Justin Fowlkes on a slant pass resulting in a 10-yard touchdown.
Collierville will step back into Region play next week at Cordova. Meanwhile the Trojans open up their 2015 Region schedule hosting the Ridgeway Roadrunners at 7 p.m.
