Photo by Kevin Lewter/bigKphotos.com
Despite becoming the first team this season to hold Christian Brothers under 40 points in a contest, the Collierville High School varsity football team fell 35-0 Friday night to the Purple Wave.
The Dragons were shut out at home by a Christian Brothers team that has allowed only 50 total points through five games this season.
While Collierville’s balanced offense saw the young team gain more than 100 yards on the ground and through the air, turnovers at the end of two long drives prevented the Dragons from visiting the end zone.
Christian Brothers got on the scoreboard quickly with an 85-yard kickoff return from junior running back Ramadi Warren.
Warren scored again in the first quarter on a 28-yard dash. He averaged seven yards a carry in the game and finished with 73 rushing yards.
“No doubt this team has the most talent of any we have faced so far,” said Dragon Head Coach Mike O’Neill. “This might be one of the most talented CBHS teams in recent history.”
The Purple Wave took to the sky in the second quarter as junior quarterback Breck Ruddick threw two touchdown passes before the half to senior wide receivers Anthony Miller and Cal Throckmorton.
“At times, we looked like we could stop the running attack on first and second down,” O’Neill said, “but would lose third down to the passing game.”
O’Neill said the Dragon’s offense, which gained 101 rushing yards and 109 passing yards, was hampered by turnovers.
“We had some success with two long drives,” he noted. “However they ended with turnovers.”
One such turnover came from junior quarterback Clay Casey, who finished the game with 60 passing yards and gained nearly 50 yards on the ground.
“The mindset is we have to learn and move on,” O’Neill said.
Of Collierville’s receivers, sophomore Drew Van de Vuurst led the way with 82 yards on four receptions.
With a 28-point lead at halftime, Christian Brothers relied on its potent ground game to keep the contest out of reach from Collierville, resulting in another touchdown from Warren in the third quarter.
The Purple Wave finished the game with 292 yards of offense and 16 first downs.
With Germantown coming to town this Friday, O’Neill said his team can’t afford to dwell on the loss.
“We did some soul searching yesterday and ended up having a really good practice,” he said. “This young team will continue to grow and improve.”
Sitting at 3-2 on the season, Germantown has won its last two games by a combined 71 points.
However, O’Neill said the 2-3 Dragons shouldn’t be overlooked.
“Don’t count us out,” he said.
