Purcell survived at home last Thursday even though Community Christian controlled the ball for all but 33 seconds of the first quarter.

Purcell ran one offensive play in the opening period getting the ball for the first time with a mere 33 seconds remaining in the quarter.

A penalty aided first drive by the Royals was a 25-play marathon but the Dragons held the visitors out of the end zone eventually carving out a 37-10 victory.

Junior running back Boston Knowles, who finished the night with 200 yards rushing on 19 carries, scored a pair of touchdowns – a number matched by junior signal caller Kash Guthmueller.

Guthmueller scored on runs of 47 and 40 yards while Knowles found pay dirt from seven yards out and from 25 yards out.

Nathan Tekaat took a 24-yard Guthmueller pass to the house and Noah Gracey handled the kicking chores, even booting a 25 yard field goal in the second quarter.

Behind the big eaters up front, the Dragons ground out 337 yards rushing as a team.

Guthmueller gained 116 yards on eight carries while he was 3-4 passing for 54 yards and the score.

“Offensively we ran the ball really, really well,” head coach Aaron Dillard said speaking of the work in the trenches by Brody Holder, Brian Bernal, Gunner Baker, Derek Cravens, Landry Bacon and Christian Kirk.

Dillard reports regular center Carter Goldston could be back from a knee injury by the Comanche game in week No. 10.

“Our A backs played really well,” Dillard said of Carter Bennett, Tekaat, Colt Taylor and Noah Mason.

“A lot of times they don’t show up on the stat sheet but their blocking, and just doing their jobs is important,” the coach said.

Purcell’s defenders limited CCS to 120 yards on the ground.

“Most of that came on their first drive and late in the game. In between that we played pretty well,” the coach said.

Guthmueller notched a pair of interceptions at safety and cornerback Noah Mason picked off an errant Royal pass.

“After that first drive we did a pretty good job of turning them over and getting stops,” Dillard said.

Guthmueller, Kirk and Ryker Fink registered 15 tackles each while Knowles had 17 stops.

“Boston continues to play really well,” Dillard said. “And, our corners, Colt Taylor and Noah Mason did a good job handling their deep balls after settling down after the first drive.”

Up next Thursday night is a date with the No. 1 Washington Warriors. The winner of the contest will be in the driver’s seat to win the district championship and have two home playoff games.

“They are really good,” Dillard reports. “They are hard to stop. They are big and athletic. They can either spread you out and throw or they can also tighten up and run it down your throat. They will check us at every level from the defensive line to linebackers to our secondary. We will have to play well to get them off the field.”

Dillard said the key to a Purcell victory will be winning the time of possession.

“We have to control the football,” he said. “Any time you are facing a prolific offense you need to keep them off the field and try to slow the tempo and grind it on them.”

Dillard said his defenders need to be flexible.

“We need to be a bend but don’t break defense,” the coach said. “They are going to make plays. We just need to keep them out of the end zone.”

The Warriors start a pair of Division I tight ends in Nate Roberts and Cooper Alexander. They feature veteran senior quarterback Major Cantrell and a terrific running back in junior Hudson Howard.

Washington Coach Brad Beller has been especially pleased with the way his defense has been playing, coming off a 54-0 shutout victory over Lindsay last week.

Dragon notes:

Purcell Head Coach Aaron Dillard nominated Boston Knowles as the Offensive Player of the Week. Knowles rushed 19 times for 200 yards and two touchdowns.

Getting the nomination for Offensive Lineman of the Week was Brian Bernal, who graded out at 78 percent against CCS.

Dillard nominated Kash Guthmueller as the Defensive Player of the Week. Guthmueller had 15 tackles and two interceptions against CCS last Thursday night.

Getting the nod as the Defensive Lineman of the Week was Landry Bacon, who finished with seven tackles including two for losses against the Royals.