Collierville Steals Victory Away from Clarksville

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Dragons found some magic late to pull past the Wildcats in what was one of the best games in the state for Round One. This was a great win for Collierville but one they must learn from and move on to face a familiar foe next week in Houston. </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What a ball game to kick off the playoffs as Collierville found a way late to come from behind and defeat #1 seed and previously undefeated Clarksville, 23-22 in what had to be one of the best games across the state from the Round One slate.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From the opening kickoff until the final whistle, this game was all about defense as both the Wildcats and Dragons went blow for blow on that side of the ball until Clarksville finally broke through in the 2nd quarter with the first score of the game, taking a 7-0 lead.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That lead came by way of an interception of Collierville quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='258673' first='Aidan' last='Glover']</strong>, who struggled most of the night due to the Wildcats front seven providing consistent pressure and their secondary doing a good job of keeping the Dragons receivers in front of them.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Dragons would respond on the next drive as Glover hit senior two-way talent <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='547092' first='Martez' last='Carter'] </strong>on a long pass that set the offense up in the red zone where they finished the drive on a short yard run to tie the game up at 7-7. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1077897,"width":"532px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.7777777777777777","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/20231103_194415.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1077897" style="aspect-ratio:1.7777777777777777;width:532px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Among all the action in the 1st half, both defenses remained constant and steady. They would each give up some plays here or there but overall, both squads played excellent football all night, especially in the 1st half where both offenses were kept in check.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a short field goal made by Clarksville, the Wildcats would take a 10-7 lead into the locker room and feeling quite confident while Collierville was lucky to be down by three as their offense struggled for most of the half. The Dragons needed to come out of the locker room with a different mindset and game play but much of their problems from the first half would continue.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Collierville took the ball to start the 3rd quarter and on their 1st drive, senior running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='363704' first='Jonathan' last='Hampton'] </strong>fumbled the ball with it returned by a Wildcats defender to the Dragons five yard line. Clarksville would only get a field goal off this turnover but it was continued momentum for the Wildcats as it was starting to look like things would go in the favor of the home team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1077901,"width":"493px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.7777777777777777","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/20231103_194059.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1077901" style="aspect-ratio:1.7777777777777777;width:493px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Moving late into the 3rd quarter, momentum would remain with Clarksville as the Wildcats pushed another score on the board after a short yard run from junior running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1240402' first='James' last='Dalrymple']</strong>. Everything was looking like the home team would walk away with the win but the 4th quarter happened and so did the introduction of junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1177637' first='Grant' last='Troutman']</strong>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Dragons star quarterback in Glover went down in the 4th quarter with a concussion which forced Troutman into the ball game and he certainly took advantage. The junior signal caller looked calm and poised out there with the season on the line and comfortable with his surroundings.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Down 22-10 with a little less than eight minutes remaining, the Dragons needed to air it out and that's what Troutman did as he tossed it deep to star wideout <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='220241' first='Joakim' last='Dodson']</strong>, who found the end zone and brought the Dragons back to within 22-17. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1077896,"width":"511px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.7777777777777777","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/20231103_191532.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1077896" style="aspect-ratio:1.7777777777777777;width:511px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Collierville's defense needed a stop and they got it as they forced Clarksville to punt, giving them the ball with about two minutes to go in the game. The Dragons immediately started marching down field on a tired Wildcats defense, pushing into the red zone where Troutman would eventually carry the ball in the end zone on a quarterback sneak to put the road team ahead 23-22.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a tremendous comeback by the Dragons but they needed one more stop before they could go back home with the win. Lacking a passing game, Clarksville had to rely on it to find points but they just couldn't do it as the Dragons would sack the Wildcats quarterback on the final play to solidify their 1st round win.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Honestly did not see Collierville coming back in this game as they looked lifeless for most of the contest but their overall talent won out in the end and winning is winning, so the Dragons will advance to Round Two and continue their hopes of winning a Class 6A title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player of the Game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1177637' first='Grant' last='Troutman']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Collierville","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eThis guy only played a little less than one quarter but he earned the player of the game based upon his play when he got into the game where he immediately led his Dragons team back to victory over the home Wildcats. Troutman was never flawless when he stepped as one his 1st passes was a deep shot to star wideout u003c/spanu003eu003cbu003e[player_tooltip player_id='220241' first='Joakim' last='Dodson'] u003c/bu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003ethat produced a touchdown then proceeded to drive the Dragons down the field with several key passes to eventually push through the go ahead score with a quarterback sneak. The little sample size we got of Troutman Friday night showed me that Collierville has their guy under center in Troutman for the 2024 season and someone that can reach the college game.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6546a319ddcf2"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- (OT/G) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='462638' first='Robert' last='Bourdon'] </strong>- Collierville: A massive dude with natural power, Bourdon was a road grader on Friday night that opened plenty of holes for the Dragons running backs as well as did a good job in pass protection.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- ‘25 (RB) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1240402' first='James' last='Dalrymple'] </strong>- Clarksville: The Wildcats junior was a steady presence on offense throughout the entire game and was the one player the Dragons defense could not slow down. If Dalrymple doesn't play up to his standard Friday night, the Wildcats might not have been in position to win.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- ‘25 (WR) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='220241' first='Joakim' last='Dodson'] </strong>- Collierville: Dodson has every tool you want in a star receiver and while it might have taken some time for him to show up Friday night, his play in the 4th quarter was critical towards the Dragons victory.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- (OT/G) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='806459' first='William' last='Zielinski'] </strong>- Clarksville: A nasty competitor with size, Zielinski made his presence known throughout the entire game as he used his physicality to open up running lanes while also pancaking several Dragon defenders.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- ‘25 (LB) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1246567' first='A.J.' last='Greene'] </strong>- Collierville: Greene flashed several times during this matchup as he produced multiple big hits along with a few behind the line of scrimmage that put a halt to some Wildcat offensive drives.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- ‘26 (DB) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1103508' first='Jamarcus' last='Watkins'] </strong>- Clarksville: If you look on paper, Watkins may not have the stats of a top performer but I watched this guy closely on Friday night as he was tasked of guarding Dodson most of the night and he did a very good job of holding his own.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1077908,"width":"605px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.7777777777777777","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/20231103_191131.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1077908" style="aspect-ratio:1.7777777777777777;width:605px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->