Junior fullback Jordan Miller rumbled 21 yards for a touchdown with just under nine minutes remaining in Collinsville’s game Friday against Althoff. The run gave the Kahoks a 21-17 lead, and made Head Coach John Blaylock look prophetic.

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Junior running back Jamal Wellemaker goes for a long run against Althoff / Photo by Roger Starkey

On a day in which temperatures topped 100 in the Metro East for the first time this summer, Blaylock had speculated that, because his players do not play both offense and defense, his team might have a conditioning advantage over the host Crusaders. The Kahoks had trailed 17-6 at the half, but had worn the Crusaders down with a persistent running game. Two fourth quarter touchdowns gave Collinsville its first lead since 6-3 in the first quarter.

Althoff senior quarterback Eric Mertens, however, was not ready to concede victory. A 39-yard completion from Mertens brought the Crusaders to the Kahoks’ 10-yard line. Althoff’s drive and hopes looked to be stalled, however, when Mertens was sacked by senior linebacker Cody Reynolds, bringing up fourth down and goal from the 17-yard-line.

On the next snap, Mertens threw a perfect pass on a corner fade route to sophomore receiver Keenan Young. Despite close coverage, Young made the grab and the Crusaders had a 23-21 lead with 3:36 to play.

“They have a top notch quarterback and, just when we thought we had him, he pulls out a great play,” Blaylock said.

The extra point attempt by sophomore Donovan Gagen was blocked. The scoring drive was aided by a Kahoks’ offside penalty on fourth and one.

When junior running back Devin Burch scampered for 30 yards on the first play of the next drive, it looked like the Kahoks would be able to march back downfield. The drive stalled, however, at midfield when senior quarterback Connor Zabala was tackled after a 3-yard gain on fourth and 24. Althoff ran out the clock to seal the victory.

“We didn’t finish, we need to learn to do that,” Blaylock said. “That is part of the culture change.”

The Kahoks lost the game, but do not have their heads down. “It was a tough loss, but we learned a lot about ourselves,” Blaylock said. “The season is not one game long.”

Althoff, the fifth ranked team in Class 4A, grabbed a 3-0 first quarter lead on a 26-yard field goal from Gagen, but the lead was short lived. Burch returned the ensuing kick-off to the 50 yard-line. Junior running back Jamal Wellmaker took the ball to the house two plays later on a 49-yard run. The extra point attempt failed.

The Crusaders controlled the remainder of the first half. Mertens hit Young on a 43-yard touchdown on the next drive. After two touchdowns were called back on penalties, Mertens found senior Luke Frazier on a six-yard touchdown with 10 minutes remaining in the second quarter. The Crusaders carried the 17-6 lead into the half.

Collinsville struggled with their new offensive system and came out flat in the first half, Blaylock said, but they learned quickly. “Our kids and coaches made great second half adjustments.”

The Kahoks first two drives of the third quarter were long, sustained drives that ended on downs and a fumble. The third drive ended on another fumble. Meanwhile, Althoff tried unsuccessfully to establish a running game. Neither team scored in the third quarter.

Collinsville forced a fumble to start the fourth quarter and quickly scored. Burch followed a Wellmaker 20-yard run with a 21-yard scoring scamper. Wellmaker converted the 2-point conversion to cut the Crusaders lead to 17-14, before Miller’s touchdown nearly gave the Kahoks the victory.

Blaylock said the second half effort was a glimpse of what the Kahoks are capable of doing this season. “We have to have faith in each other,” Blaylock said.

The Kahoks play their first home game of the season at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, against Triad. The game can be seen on kahoksports.com.