It’s been a year since the Collinsville and Lindsay football teams met in the Class 2A Division II region semifinals.
Despite winning the district matchup between the teams a year ago, the Pirates suffered a 29-23 overtime loss to the Knights, who went on to lose to former district rival and eventual repeat state champion Muenster. With the two-time state champion Hornets moving up to 2A Division I, somebody has to assume the throne in District 9-2A Division II.
Collinsville (5-0) visits Lindsay (3-2) in the District 9-2A Division II opener for both teams at 7 p.m. Friday at Knight Stadium in Lindsay. Although the Knights got the upper hand in the postseason a year ago, Pirates coach Garrett Patterson insists there is no sense of revenge heading into Friday night.
“No sense of payback — last year was last year,” Patterson said. “We are focused on getting better at each game we play.”
Nonetheless, Patterson recognizes the rivalry between the teams and believes it is “pretty intense.”
Collinsville has followed the formula of “getting better at each game.” The Pirates defeated Muenster, 50-47, and Alvord, 62-35, in their last two games.
The significance of those wins is that both teams defeated Lindsay in its first two games of the season. The Knights lost to Muenster, 55-0, and Alvord, 42-19, before reeling off three straight wins against Whitewright, 26-6; Leonard, 38-27; and Quanah, 47-26.
From a 28-12 defensive slugfest in the season opener at Tioga to an offensive shootout in a 63-54 win at Cooper the following week, Collinsville has won in a variety of ways. The Pirates also held run-heavy Bells, which has gained all but 36 yards of its offense on the ground this season, to 198 rushing yards in a 34-14 victory.
Lindsay operates out of the spread or pistol offensively. According to Patterson, the Knights will line up in anything ranging from an empty backfield with five wide receivers to a two-running back, two-tight end, one-wide receiver set.
Defensively, Lindsay will line up in an even front — a 4-3 or 4-2-5 — or an odd front — a 3-4 or 3-3-5. With both Collinsville and Lindsay coming off bye weeks, Patterson said playing clean football will be important.
“Whoever can come out of the bye week and play clean will be a huge key,” he said. “Obviously, turnovers are going to be huge.”
Patterson said the bye week was “good and refreshing” and allowed the players to heal after the first five games of the season. He said the Pirates are healthy heading into Friday’s game.
Source: Freepik.com