Purcell running back Boston Knowles is breathing rarefied air.

The senior standout rushed for 307 yards on 23 carries in last Friday night’s 55-26 victory over Star Spencer and scored five touchdowns. He has rushed for almost 1,400 yards this season and is averaging 168 a game.

He becomes only the second Dragon to rush for over 4,000 yards in a career and needs just 61 yards to become the all-time rushing leader in the history of the storied program.

The senior has rushed for 4,281 yards. Only Gerald Green has more career rushing yards at 4,341. That record was set in 1974, standing for 50 years.

The victory over Star Spencer was an historic win for the Dragons. It was victory number 725. That’s the word from Purcell historian Kelly Nemecek.

The first of five Knowles touchdowns was a 53-yard burst. He also scored on runs of two, 11, 24 and 23.

Jonathon Minor scored on a 35 yard scoop and score and Carlos Lara closed out the point parade on a 12 yard fourth quarter run.

“Boston had a great night,” head coach Aaron Dillard said.

As a team, Purcell had a good night rushing the pigskin gaining 419 yards on the ground and finishing with 474 yards of total offense. Deaken Dobbins was 1-3 passing for 55-yards and a touchdown to Oscar Wren in the first quarter.

“Any time you have 474 yards on offense your offense had a good night,” Dillard said. “Our o-line continues to get better and better,” the coach said of Carter Thomas, Dylan Smith, Kaden Pliler, Landry Bacon, Brian Bernal and tight end Christian Kirk.

“We had 10 guys carry the ball. It was good  to get some other guys some touches and carries,” Dillard continued.

“Our defense gave up some points but we also forced three turnovers,” he said.

Devan Martin and Noel Chavez both had interceptions in the game and Minor had the fumble recovery.

Martin finished with eight tackles but the leader was Kirk with an even dozen.

“Devan had a really good game at free safety,” the coach said. “Carlos came in and played well at rover with six tackles. Casey Billingsly had six tackles, Minor had five tackles and the scoop and score and Rigo Carillo had five tackles from his defensive line spot.”

Hunter Dennis came in and made a touchdown saving tackle at cornerback, the coach said.

“He made some really good plays,” Dillard said.

Up next is a road trip to Heritage Hall.

The Chargers are the only undefeated team in the district although Pauls Valley played them to within five and it took overtime for them to dispatch Plainview.

“They are very athletic and have a lot of weapons,” Dillard said. “They have a really good running back and have burners at receiver. Their O-line is good, just very young.”

Dillard reports the Chargers will operate out of an odd stack on defense.

“They are really athletic and physical on defense,” the coach confirmed.

“We have to limit their explosive plays and not give up any long bombs,” he said. “A key for us is converting long drives into points.”

Dragon notes:

Purcell Head Coach Aaron Dillard nominated Boston Knowles as the Offensive Player of the Week. He carried the mail 23 times Friday night for 307 yards and five visits to the end zone.

The nominee for Offensive Lineman of the Week went to Brian Bernal, who graded pit at 78 percent.

Nominated as the Defensive Lineman of the Week was Jonathon Minor, who had five tackles, one tackle for loss and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown.

Devan Martin was nominated as the Defensive Player of the Week. He had eight tackles and intercepted a Bobcat pass.