Purcell stood toe-to-toe with powerful Mount St. Mary last Friday night but came up on the short end of a 33-20 decision at Conger Field.

The difference in the game basically came down to two plays, a pair of scoop and scores by the Rockets that led to 13 fourth quarter points. That was the difference in the contest.

Senior Cash Cook got the scoring started for the Dragons taking the rock to the house on a 26-yard first quarter scamper.

Cook had 12 carries on the night for 73 yards.

A fake on the PAT ended in a failed two-point conversion and the quarter ended 6-6.

Freshman Ty Nichols scored in the third quarter on a two-yard run but the PAT failed. Nichols finished the night with 46 yards rushing on 16 carries.

“He ran the ball really well,” head coach Aaron Dillard said. “Pretty good job for a pup.”

Cooper Selman led the offense, rushing for 134 yards on 12 carries.

“I was proud of a lot of kids,” Dillard said. “Cooper Selman, Cash Cook, JJ Hitchcock, Axel Shobert and Ty Nichols.”

Shobert had two receptions for 15 yards, but both catches were very important leading to first downs to keep drives alive.

“They were two impactful plays to move the sticks for us,” the coach said.

Hitchcock carried the ball five times for 66 yards and had a 16-yard touchdown pass to Cash Cook in the fourth quarter, followed by a two point conversion run by the signal caller.

“We were four of five on fourth down conversions,” Dillard said. “We were trying to be aggressive and to be 80 percent successful was good.”

As a team, the Dragons finished with 331 total yards including 265 on the ground.

“It was a fairly productive night offensively. The two scoop and scores were the difference in the ball game,” he confirmed.

Dillard said the game plan on defense was to limit their explosive plays.

“They moved the ball on us at times but we got enough stops to be in the game,” Dillard said. “Cooper Selman had a big interception and Cash Cook stripped the running back on the sideline. He really covered well all night in the back end.”

Senior Ethan Colburn led the defense with 11 tackles last Friday night. Junior Liam Cummings had seven stops, a number matched by Cook at cornerback.

“That’s a pretty good night for a corner,” Dillard said.

Grady Maral played well in the defensive line, making five tackles.

Dragon notes:

Head coach Aaron Dillard nominated Cooper Selman as the Offensive Player of the Week for his 134 yards rushing and 35 yards receiving.

The nominee for Defensive Player of the Week went to Ethan Colburn for his 11 tackle performance against the Rockets.

Dillard nominated Grady Maral as the Defensive Lineman of the Week. He had five tackles including one tackle for a loss.

The nominee for Offensive Lineman of the Week went to Brian Cazares, who graded out at 85 percent against Mount St. Mary.