It’s been seven years since the Bells and Collinsville football teams last met.
The Pirates held off the Panthers 7-6 on Sept. 20, 2019. Both teams had first-year head coaches — Dale West at Bells and Garrett Patterson at Collinsville.
Based on trends from the teams’ first two games, Friday night’s contest likely won’t end in a defensive slugfest. The Panthers are averaging more than 24 points per game, while the Pirates are scoring more than 45 per contest.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Pirate Stadium in Collinsville. While both teams have shown the ability to score, they employ two completely different offensive styles. Bells (1-1) operates out of the run-heavy Slot-T, while Collinsville (2-0) uses the spread.
“Being efficient on offense is a huge factor. When you play a Slot-T team, they use the clock and possession to their advantage,” Patterson said of Bells. “On defense, you have to get them in long third-down (situations). They want to average three yards per play. They will go for it anywhere on the field when it is fourth-and-one.”
The Pirates’ 10-1 defense might be the right alignment for defending against a Panthers’ offense that almost always employs two tight ends and two or three running backs. The key will be lining up correctly to stop it.
“It’s always a grinding-type offense,” Patterson said. “You try to get your kids as best prepared as you can for a long night in the box.”
On the flip side, Bells will try to slow a Collinsville offense that scored 63 points in last week’s 63-54 victory against Cooper. Paxton Davidson accounted for 410 yards and six touchdowns — 271 yards and two touchdowns passing and 139 yards and four scores rushing — in the shootout.
“(We kept) scoring offensively,” Patterson said. “(Cooper) never could catch up.”
The scoring started on the opening kickoff as Cooper returned the kick for a touchdown and appeared to have momentum after forcing the Pirates to punt on their opening possession. But Eli Settles helped Collinsville settle in with a fumble return for its first touchdown.
After the teams traded touchdowns on the next two drives, Collinsville took control and built a 42-27 halftime lead. Cooper pulled within two points on three occasions in the second half, but the Pirates answered with a score each time to prevent a comeback.
In addition to Davidson’s numbers, Chase Sheppard led Collinsville’s rushing attack with 146 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. Caysen Schafer caught four passes for 81 yards and a touchdown, while Jaxon Spivey had 13 receptions for 150 yards and a score.
The high-scoring affair was a contrast to Collinsville’s season-opening 28-12 victory at Tioga. Nonetheless, Patterson is happy to be 2-0.
“I don’t care either way as long as we win,” he said. “Do we need to play defense better? Yes, but if you win, that’s the whole goal.”
Bells surrendered more than 300 yards of total offense in a 42-22 loss to Whitesboro last Friday. The Panthers’ bright spots included Asa Curtis, who rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns, and Jaxon Brown, who recorded 13 tackles.
West did not respond to requests for comment as of press time.
