COLLIERVILLE – Fueled by a bruising, opportunistic defense, the Collierville Dragons recorded their second shutout of the season with a dominant 61-0 victory over Craigmont on Friday night at Dragon Stadium. The win marked the highest point total of the season for the Dragons and a milestone for Head Coach Joe Rocconi, who notched his 55th career win at the helm.
Dragon defenders harassed Craigmont’s quarterbacks all night, racking up eight sacks and keeping the visitors off balance from start to finish. Caleb Woods led the defensive charge with nine tackles, while AJ Craft added seven tackles of his own in a relentless effort that set the tone early.
Whether it was Wide Receivers Coach Logan Johns dialing up a speed boost for Tae Walden Jr., or the junior standout riding a wave of confidence after receiving scholarship offers from The University of Tennessee and Ole Miss earlier in the day, Walden was electric in the first half—hauling in three touchdown receptions before halftime.
Running backs Lawrence Autry and Dillan Vaughn also showcased next-level talent, each scoring on impressive rushing plays. Collierville cruised into halftime with a commanding 34-0 lead.
Entering the contest, Collierville had outscored opponents by a combined 236-170 margin. Now just a field goal shy of the 300-point mark on the season, the Dragons didn’t take their foot off the gas in the second half.
With the game well in hand, fans got a glimpse of the future. Sophomore quarterback Colton Cordell, third on the depth chart, looked poised and confident under center. The backfield also showed promise beyond Autry’s eventual departure, as Vaughn matched Walden’s three-touchdown performance with two more scores in the second half.
Sophomore running backs Dearious Cheairs and Anthony Salamida added to the fireworks, each punching in a rushing touchdown to cap off the night.
Collierville (5-2) returns to action next Thursday, October 9, when they welcome Lausanne to The Ville. It’s a matchup expected to draw a number of college coaches, with high-profile talent on both sidelines. If you haven’t yet experienced a Collierville Dragon football game, make plans to attend — and bring a friend! Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. at Dragon Stadium at Landers SportsPlex.
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