Purcell ground out 357 yards on the ground and added another 96 through the air to walk all over the McLoud Redskins, 34-7, on the road last Friday night.

Quarterback JJ Hitchcock rushed for 116 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown and threw for 96 yards and two more touchdowns.

Freshman Ty Nichols carried the mail 16 times for 86 yards while Cash Cook rushed for 84 yards including a 48-yard and a touchdown and was the receiving end of an 18-yard pass off the arm of Hitchcock for another score.

Braylon Francis gained 34 yards on three carries and Cooper Selman picked up 37 yards on five carries.

“Overall, collectively our offensive line had a really good night,” head coach Aaron Dillard said of Jesus Cruz, Brian Cazares, Halo DiRienzo, Cannan Haynes and Drew Parson.

“Any time you rush for that many yards you have to have good line play. Jesus had a really good night at right guard,” Dillard said.

Dillard also praised the play of his receivers corps, speaking of Taizen Hernandez, Axel Shobert, Aedyn Wisenhant.

“They all played really well,” the coach said.

“Defensively, I was proud of the entire defensive unit,” Dillard said. “At times we bent but didn’t break and only gave up one big play. We missed a tackle which would have been a five yard gain and it ended up a 75 yard touchdown.

Leading the defensive charge was junior linebacker Liam Cummings, who finished with 14 tackles. “Cooper Selman had a tremendous night at free safety,” Dillard said. “And we got good play from Grady Maral, Cannan Haynes, Brody Walkup and Carter Thomas,” the coach confirmed.

Hitchcock got the Purcell scoring  underway with a 17-yard scamper in the opening quarter but the PAT was called no good although tape replays confirmed it was a missed call not PAT.

Ethan Colburn snagged a Hitchcock pass good for 17 yards and a touchdown later in the second period.

The Dragons went on to out-score the Redskins 21-7 in the second half.

Francis got the party started in the third quarter on a 13-yard run for a score and Cash Cook legged it in from 48 yards out later in the third.

An 18-yard reception by Cash Cook was taken to the crib for the final score of the evening in the fourth quarter.

“We just had a bunch of guys play well on both sides of the ball,” Dillard confirmed.

Up next will be a stern test with the Mount St. Marys Rockets rolling into town.

“Their offensive scheme is all of the above. The Rockets can throw the ball all over the field and run it down your throat,” Dillard said. “I’d call it a power spread.”

The Rockets shows an even front on defense and have four defensive linemen over 300 pounds. They are huge and are super multiple, the coach reports.

“Their box guys, linebackers and defensive ends are very impressive players. They are long and rangy and huge. It’ll be a big challenge for us.”

Dragon Notes:

Purcell Head Coach Aaron Dillard nominated JJ Hitchcock as the Offensive Player of the Week. Hitchcock was 4-7 passing for 96 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another score, gaining 116 yards on 10 totes.

The nominee for Offensive Lineman of the Week went to freshman Jesus Cruz, who graded out at 88 percent against the Redskins.

The nominee for Defensive Player of the Week was Liam Cummings who registered 14 tackles, including six solo stops.

Dillard nominated Carter Thomas as the Defensive Lineman of the Week, who finished with seven tackles and forced a fumble.