Collierville, TN — There was no letdown for the Collierville Dragons on Friday night as they rolled to a 24-0 shutout victory over Germantown in the second round of the TSSAA playoffs. The win secured Collierville's spot in the Elite Eight and marked a dominant performance for the Dragons, who showed resilience and depth despite the absence of their star on defense, Samuel Iroh.
Collierville, now 11-1, came into the game fresh off an impressive first-round victory over Rossview, and the Dragons were determined to keep the momentum rolling. Seven weeks removed from a hard-fought regular-season win vs Germantown at Red Devil Field, the two teams met again in the Sweet 16 at Dragon Stadium — but this time, it was all Dragons.
Quarterback Grant Troutman was sharp, finishing 14-of-19 for 198 yards and three touchdowns. His chemistry with wide receiver Tae Walden Jr. was undeniable, as Walden Jr. hauled in two touchdown passes in the first half. He was a key catalyst for the offense and also made his presence felt on defense with a critical interception in the first half.
Despite being without Iroh, who is a Tennessee Titans Mr. Football semifinalist, Collierville's defense stood tall. Linebacker Tristian Euell led the charge with 11 tackles, eight of which were solo stops. The "Doomsday Defense" shut down the Germantown offense, with Jayden Majors and Joseph Myers contributing six tackles each.
Collierville’s special teams also made an impact, with kicker Grayson Lytton adding a 30-yard field goal in the second quarter to give the Dragons a 17-0 lead heading into halftime. Lytton was also a perfect 3-for-3 on points after touchdowns. Punter Gavin Grant was the secret weapon and a game changer with his ability to flip the field multiple times.
The game's final blow came in the third quarter when Troutman connected with tight end Marshall Smith Jr. for a touchdown. Smith ran a crisp out pattern, and Troutman delivered a perfect strike for the Dragons' final score.
Next up for Collierville is a matchup with the other Germantown team, Houston High School, who defeated Bartlett, 17-10, in their Sweet 16 matchup. The two teams will face off next Friday at 7:00 p.m. at Houston in what is expected to be a thrilling showdown.
Tickets can be purchased at gofan.co.
