By John E. Morgan
In the fourth quarter, it was everything a high school football game should be. Close game, Gaston desperately clinging to a lead. Collinsville overcoming a huge deficit and driving to tie the game late. Both sides of the field screaming. Everybody on their feet. Cheerleaders cheering. It was wonderful. The kind of game both sides will remember years from now.
It didn’t start that way. Gaston seized control of the game early. “I thought we started flat”, said Coach Ernie Willingham. “I don’t know why. Our practices were just so-so. We got ourselves in a hole, going down fourteen points early.”
And that hole got deeper. Collinsville quarterback Grant Jones hurt his foot late in the first quarter and did not return. The Panther’s leading rusher and receiver, Dallas Reed, was limited to two pass receptions and a kickoff return before he, too changed into street clothes. And there were other injuries.
After Jones’s injury, the Panthers were able to punch in a touchdown. Gaston responded by scoring a TD on the last drive of the first half and the first drive of the second half to lead 29-7 four minutes into the half. They had over 200 yards rushing for the game, led by the running of Jashun Cammeron. Collinsville looked beat.
But they did not play that way. “We began to play hard. Our defense stiffened, and we started to turn things around. We had some explosive plays. Trenton Nash and Gerald Blakely played really well”, said Willingham. Blakely rushed for three TDs and Nash had a huge 89 yard kickoff return. “We lost some good players to injury. But the ones who came in really stepped up and played well.”
One of those who came in was Keaton Kilgro who stepped in at quarterback to go 15 of 27 for 241 yards and a touchdown. He also scrambled for 44 yards. Willingham said, “He came in and did a good job. He is a new kid at our school and has only been with us part of the season. He did great.”
And so the Panthers clawed their way back into the game. Scoring a TD at the end of the third to get it to 2 TDS. Gaston responded early in the fourth to push it back to 35-14. Nash’s kickoff immediately made it 35-21. Failed possession for both teams. Before Kilgro found Nicholas Brockitt for 70 yards to get it to 35-28 with just under three minutes left.
The onside kick failed – twice. No hope. But the defense forced a fumble. One last chance. The stands exploding. The Panthers drove to a first down on the 36 with a minute left. That was as close as they got. Gaston held and ran out the clock.
After the game Willingham shook his head and said, “I don’t know what to say about a game like this.” The next day, Kilgro said, “It was hard to lose. But it was fun. Football is supposed to be fun, and that was fun.” Those fortunate enough to be there would agree.
