Collinsville made their homecoming night interesting from the opening kick, but could not manage an upset over the O’Fallon Panthers, falling 27-10.
Photo by Roger Starkey
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The Kahoks attempted an unsuccessful onside kick to start the game and, despite O’Fallon’s good starting field position, Collinsville (0-4 SWC, 1-5 overall) stopped one of the most potent offenses in the Southwestern Conference on the drive. Senior cornerback Demerius Tally sacked O’Fallon (3-1 SWC, 4-2 overall) sophomore quarterback Camden Bauer on a fourth down play to end the drive.
Two players later, Kahoks junior running back Jamal Wellmaker took the ball around right end and galloped 51 yards for the score. Senior kicker Josh Calvin’s extra point gave Collinsville a 7-0 lead, a score that would remain until late in the third quarter.
Bauer, who was the league leader in passing yards entering the contest, was replaced by junior Tyler Brooks with 7:04 remaining in the first half. Bauer was reportedly removed from the game due to injury. Brooks was sacked three times on his first possession and was replaced in the second half.
O’Fallon opened the second half in the Wildcat offense, with wide receiver Klayton Gettis at the helm. Gettis and the new-look offense led the Panthers to 27 second half points.
O’Fallon sophomore running back Kentrail Moran opened the second half scoring with a 27-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Patrick Riley. The extra point attempt failed, leaving the Panthers in a 7-6 deficit.
Collinsville was undaunted by the touchdown. The Kahoks marched downfield and added to their lead with a 40-yard Calvin field goal to push the score to 10-6 with one minute, four seconds remaining in the third quarter.
The Panthers took advantage of the time remaining in the third quarter to score a touchdown on a 62-yard pass from Gettis to Tae’Mon Franklin. The Kahoks clawed back again, tying the score at 13 on a 32-yard Calving field goal with 6:55 remaining.
But the Kahoks had no answer for the Wildcat offense. O’Fallon moved the ball at will in the second half, lead by Moran, the leagues leading rusher.
Gettis scored on an 18-yard keeper to give the Panthers the lead for good with 5:25 to play.
The Kahoks punted from their own 1 inch line on the next possession, setting the Panthers up with great field possession. O’Fallon quickly marched down field and Moran salted the game away on a 3-yard touchdown run with 2:01 remaining.
The Kahoks are back in action at 7 p.m. Friday at Belleville West. Watch the game live on Kahoksports.com.
