Dragons improving defensively

With a 7-0 lead and a first and goal on the Sulphur two yard line, Purcell had the Bulldogs’ attention.

But a bad snap ended the threat and the Bulldogs went on to score 41 unanswered to post the 41-7 victory at Conger Field last Friday night.

Offensive coordinator Questin Autry had a good game plan and it worked early.

“We knew we had to get rid of the ball quickly,” head coach Tracy Scott said. 

Junior quarterback Kody Kroth was 20-36 passing for 218 yards but had five interceptions.

Addison Love scored the Dragons’ lone touchdown from two yards out.

“I thought Sulphur was a little flat coming out,” Scott said. “I felt our kids went out and got after them. They dang sure didn’t back down from them.”

Scott said he had a lot of kids play well especially on the defensive side of the ball.

“Sam Wofford is playing well at backer,” the coach said. “Reuben Leveridge and Jeremy Cudd both played well at linebacker.

The coach praised the play of Nate Willis at safety in the place of the injured Brendan Farris.

“He’s just a sophomore but he’s going out and getting better every week. He’s just a youngster but improving and that’s what you need,” Scott said.

Up front a gaggle of young, undersized players are getting their feet wet for the depleted Dragons line corps.

Scott was speaking of sophomores Juan Aguinaga, Mateo Ramirez, Jair Rojo and junior Gage Askew.

“Overall, I thought our defense played pretty well,” the coach said. “Nick Albright played well at safety and the corners played well.”

Those that rotated at cornerback were Mojo Browning,Titus Mason and Gavin Constant.

“Jaysen Shea came back and made five tackles at nose guard. He played well and we’ll need him to have a really good game this week.”

“Reuben Leveridge played well. He had 11 tackles. He’s got a nose for the football,” the coach said.

Up next is a road trip Friday at Douglass.

The Trojans, who are 0-5, operate out of a one back set with trips most of the time.

“They throw it a lot,” Scott said. “They are athletic and have pretty decent size in the line.

“We’ve got to play better,” the coach continued. “We need to play a complete game not just 2 1/2 quarters. We just need to get better at what we do and be ready to go play. That’s the big thing.

“We’re thinking just go 1-0 and not worry about anything else.”

The Trojans will base out of a 4-3 on defense and trot out a slew of outstanding athletes.

“We just need to execute our offense, win the kicking game and play well on defense. We need to create some turnovers,” he said.

Dragon notes:

Head coach Tracy Scott nominated Mojo Browning as the Offensive Player of the Week. Browning hauled in nine passes for 88 yards.

The Offensive Lineman of the Week nominee is Gage Askew.

 Askew graded out at 90 percent against the Bulldogs.

Getting the nomination as the Defensive Player of the Week was Reuben Leveridge. Leveridge registered 11 tackles against Sulphur.

“He’s kinda’ undersized but he has a nose for the football,” Scott said of Leveridge.

The nominee for Defensive Lineman of the Week went to Jaysen Shea, who had five tackles last Friday night.