The Collierville High School football team kicked off its 2025 season in spectacular fashion Saturday night at Dragon Stadium, located inside the Landers SportsPlex. In front of a packed crowd of approximately 4,600 fans, the Dragons defeated East Nashville 28-14, showcasing a balanced attack and a festive atmosphere that made the season opener feel like a community-wide celebration.
The day began with a flurry of pre-game activities that transformed the campus into a football festival. Families enjoyed a Home Depot Kids Workshop station, bounce houses and inflatables in the Kid Zone, tailgating along the Dragon Walk, and a variety of food truck options. The school’s Championship Grillers Club served up Memphis-style ribs, while the Jake Maurer Band—one of Nashville’s finest—delivered a high-energy live performance.
Once the game began, the Dragons wasted no time electrifying the crowd. Star running back and Tulane commit Lawrence Autry opened the scoring with a 5-yard touchdown run. East Nashville responded with a rushing touchdown of their own, but Collierville regained control before halftime when quarterback Cayson Stanford connected with Tae Walden for a touchdown strike, giving the Dragons a 14-7 lead at the break.
The third quarter proved decisive. Quarterback Brayden Santibanez found Bradley Stubbs in the corner of the end zone for a score, and soon after Autry added his second touchdown of the night. Kicker Hayden Hollenbeck was perfect on all four extra point attempts. East Nashville managed one more touchdown, but the Dragons held firm to secure the 28-14 victory.
Santibanez led the passing attack, completing 7 of 8 passes for 123 yards. Autry carried the ball 10 times for 42 yards and two touchdowns. Walden led all receivers with 91 yards on four catches. On defense, Josh Gale had 7 total tackles to anchor a strong defensive effort. Jayden Majors and AJ Craft each recorded six total tackles to contribute
With the win, Collierville improves to 1-0 and now turns its attention to a highly anticipated Week 2 matchup against the Oxford (MS) Chargers. The game is expected to be a out-of-state border battle between two of the top programs in Tennessee and Mississippi. Fans are encouraged to secure their digital tickets early at GoFan.co.
