Collierville throws, then runs over Bolton
The blood and sweat of summer workouts turned to cheers Friday night as Alex Hicks and Collierville put on an offensive show, drumming host Bolton 49-17 in the season opener.
Hicks hit 11 of 20 passes for 245 yards and two quick catch-and-run strikes of 57 yards to Austin Hall and 44 yards to Drew Van De Vuurst as the Dragons threw their way to a 21-3 halftime lead.
The second half belonged to the running game as Hicks added several big keepers and Van De Vuurst exploded for 98 of his 99 yards and two touchdowns on four big carries against a tired Wildcat defense.
“We killed these guys in the offseason and it’s paid off,” Dragons’ coach Mike O’Neill said. “We don’t have any pudgy kids and a lot of flat bellies, and we hope to use that late in games all season.”
Star turn: Hicks, a 6-5 junior, lofted several nice passes over shorter Bolton defensive backs early on, had just one pick and then turned into a keeper-killer with several hefty runs calling his own number in the second half.
“We were using our size, mismatches, being in shape, whatever we needed to do. And our line was giving us huge holes all night,” said Hicks.
Turning point: Bolton, which flashed potential in spots with its running back-by- committee, answered Hicks’ first touchdown with a 39-yard field goal by Austin Looker. But after one of a boatload of falsestart penalties on the Dragons, Hicks came right back with his TD pass to Van De Vuurst to make it 14-3.
“We have to just forget the penalties and just keep playing,” Hicks said.
Talking points: The Wildcats played the second half without star end Tavon Banks, hampered by an ankle injury suffered in practice Wednesday. Bolton lost four other starters as the game wore on. “They jumped on us before our defense got its composure, and after that the injuries started to really concern me,” said Bolton coach Tommy Miller, whose team reached the postseason last fall, breaking a five-year drought.
What’s next: Bolton (0-1) remains at home to take on Houston, which also made it to the state 6A playoffs last year. Collierville (1- 0) has its home opener against another District 14-AAA power, Arlington.