[blue1424]

Final

[Jarons]

I am so happy that Collins made it to the finals. I got to know Jerry Lucas when I lived in Shelbyville. It could not have happened to a better person and family. I would love to see Collins bring the trophy back to Shelbyville.

[Wideleft01]

This may be close to next weeks final. Collins will be on the low side though. Congrats Collins.

[SimpTitan]

Hey WideLeft, no big secret Highlands has a great program, not sure why you have to come on a thread about Collins-Warren East to tout your team and downplay Collins win last night. Not many were expecting Collins to make it far this year with a junior dominated team. It will be good experience to play Highlands. We will get a good look at them this year, maybe we get beat pretty bad, but next year we just may have the pieces to pick-off a great team/program like Highlands. I guarantee that our starting line-up will match up with a team like Highlands, but the difference is 2-3 deep, injuries, everything has to come together at the right time. Regardless of what happens next week, you can't take away what Collins has accomplished in such a short-time. Congrats on your season and program.

[SimpTitan]

Wideleft, I assumed you may be a Highlands fan, you may not be, who is your team?

[sstack]

Wide came on here because Collins is HHS next opponent and this is a discussion board. You should be happy that HHS fans are talking about your team, it means you are doing something right. And I totally disagree that Collins starters are as good as Highlands. You will find out soon enough.

[SimpTitan]

Sstack, we are mostly juniors this year, just a few seniors. Actually I meant to post above that our 2013 starters may match up well with Highlands. You may find out

[blue1424]

SHELBYVILLE, Ky. - In just its third year of football, Collins High School will play for the Class 4-A state title after thoroughly dismantling visiting Warren East 58-7 Friday night.

The Titans, 33-8 in three years of football, will face Fort Thomas Highlands (13-1) in the finals Friday night at 8 p.m. at Western Kentucky University.

Highlands advanced with a 61-28 drubbing of Lexington Catholic.

Collins (11-3) started out quickly, scoring on their first drive, and never let up.

After Deandre Farris returned the opening kickoff 32 yards, the Titans went 56 yards in just six plays, Farris scoring on a 4-yard run.

After Blanton Creque knocked through a 25-yard field goal, the Titans' Isaiah Jones intercepted a Warren East pass and Collins then went 53 yards, capped by a 17-yard pass from quarterback Lawson Page to Farris.

That was only the start for Page, who finished with 260 yards passing and completed 14 of 18 throws, including two more TD passes - both of 26 yards to Logan Bailey and Nathan Sames.

"Warren East has a great team," said Collins coach Jerry Lucas. "We know that. We were just clicking tonight. We just got the momentum early, and our kids really capitalized on it."

When they are clicking, Lucas said it's tough to defend his team.

"We do so many different things offensively," he said. "Lawson Page - he was just tremendous tonight. He can throw the ball. He's something else. When he doesn't throw it, he can pull it down and run and run over you."

Lucas also pointed to his defense, a defense that stymied the Raiders (13-1) for most of the night.

"That's one of our best defensive performances of the year," he said.

Page also pointed to his team's defense. "The defense was just amazing," he said. "That is the best defense we've played all year."

Lucas said he knows they'll have a tough test against Highlands.

"We've seen them on video a couple of times," he said. "That's one of the best programs in the state - a traditional power. We're really excited about it."

Page said the Titans would be ready.

"I promise you we'll give them a fight," he said.

Warren East 0 0 7 0 7
Collins 10 14 27 7 58

C– Deandre Farris 4 run (Blanton Creque kick); C – Creque 25 FG; C – Farris 17 pass from Lawson Page (Creque kick); C – Logan Bailey 48 run (Creque kick); C – Masai Whyte 1 run (Creque kick); WE – Khyree Boards 41 run (Christian Flores kick); C – Bailey 26 pass from Page (run failed); C – Nathan Sames 26 pass from Page (Creque kick); Collins – Farris 20 run (Creque kick); C – Whyte 5 run (Creque kick).

http://www.usatodayhss.com/louisville/ar...2311230127

[blue1424]

The Collins football team walloped Warren East on Friday night to earn its first trip to the state finals.

The Titans routed the visiting Raiders 58-7 in the Class 4A state semifinals to earn a spot in next Friday night's title game at Western Kentucky University. Collins (11-3) will play defending state champion Highlands (13-1) at 8 p.m. (Shelbyville time). The Bluebirds beat Lexington Catholic 61-28 in the other 4A semi.

Collins scored on its first four possessions in handing Warren East (13-1) its first loss of the season.

Junior quarterback Lawson Page competed 15 of 20 passes, including 8 of 9 in the second half, for 268 yards and three touchdowns and also rushed for 56 yards.

Also for the Titans, junior running back Dre Farris accounted for three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving) and 142 yards (67 rushing, 85 receiving) of total offense. Senior running back Logan Bailey rushed for 63 yards - including a tight-rope-down-the-sideline 48-yard touchdown run - and had a 26-yard TD catch. Junior wide receiver Nathan Sames had six catches for 112 yards and one TD, while junior running back/linebacker Masai Whyte had two short touchdown runs and a team-high 13 tackles as Collins rolled up 469 yards of total offense (compared to the Raiders' 266).

[Image: http://www.sentinelnews.com/sites/www.se...wecfb9.jpg]
The next "stop" for the Collins football team is next Friday night's Class 4A state championship game at Western Kentucky University.

http://www.sentinelnews.com/content/coll...arren-east

[sstack]

Highlands has a lot returning next year too. You will get to see next week how close your program is to the top. The east side of bracket was loaded with the best 4A teams. I would put all the following teams above Collins; Highlands,CovCath,Ashland,LexCath,Boyle, JC,and I know Ian forgetting somebody else.

[SimpTitan]

Sstack, you wrote "the east side of the bracket was loaded with the best 4A teams". Duh! No big secret to anyone east of the Mississippi. Collins can only play the teams on their schedule. You also wrote "Highlands has a lot returning too"...I would have never have guessed for a program that has won 22+ state championships! I have only complimented Highlands and their program. Their football budget is probably 10 times ours, they have more and better players, and great coaches...still you can't take away what Collins has done with a much smaller budget, history, etc. It would be interesting to know what Highlands did in their 3rd year of existence. I am a fan of the Highlands program...actually pulling for Highlands to beat Trinity. The program/team is proven itself far better than 4A, 5A and just about all 6A schools, but some when some feel it necessary to downplay Collin's accomp, I don't get that. I would not go on an unrelated thread to downplay a future opponent's accomplishments. Not my style, but apparently it is for some on this DISCUSSION board. Here's to a good, injury free game next week. It would be great for Kentucky football if more teams could get their programs to the level of Highlands, Trinity, etc.

[sstack]

Not putting down Collins program, but also not going to sugar coat how I feel the game is going to turnout. Collins has done well in the few years of the school against their competition. But they are not ready for the likes of Highlands(Collins is not the only one). I picked Collins in the pick 'em contest over undefeated WE, not surprised WE had a pathetic schedule. I am not going to make Collins out to be better than they are just to make Collins fans happy. I have no kids on HHS team and have friends at Collins and like both schools. Just calling the game like I see it, sorry if it hurts your feelings.
By the way, the best athlete at Collins is not on the football field and probably smallest student at the school. Karas is a freak of a runner and will probably be considered the best runner ever in KY by the time she graduates. Too bad for Collins she is transferring to Assumption if rumors are true.

[SimpTitan]

No apologies or sugarcoating necessary on this DISCUSSION board. Didn't hurt my feelings, I love this stuff. I believe in trying to be positive, better for the kids, the schools, programs, fans, this board, etc. Collins has played respectable schedule over the last three years, played several 6A schools, beat some, had to play every game on the road last year due to home field problems - again, they can only play the team in front of them. When you are a new school, you don't always have a choice of schedule. I noticed Highlands has 122 players and Collins has 54. How many of those Highlands kids play on average in a game? The depth of Highlands alone is mind-boggling. Wish we had it. Just curious, what is their football budget? Does Chris Collingsworth coach for the team?

[sstack]

No apologies or sugarcoating necessary on this DISCUSSION board. Didn't hurt my feelings, I love this stuff. I believe in trying to be positive, better for the kids, the schools, programs, fans, this board, etc. Collins has played respectable schedule over the last three years, played several 6A schools, beat some, had to play every game on the road last year due to home field problems - again, they can only play the team in front of them. When you are a new school, you don't always have a choice of schedule. I noticed Highlands has 122 players and Collins has 54. How many of those Highlands kids play on average in a game? The depth of Highlands alone is mind-boggling. Wish we had it. Just curious, what is their football budget? Does Chris Collingsworth coach for the team?

Highlands has 91 players on varsity but they may dress freshmen for state, do not know. Collinsworth coached for 2 years but do not think he is helping this year. Do not see him game days but might be at practices. His youngest kid is a Sr. But has had a ton of injuries last three years and he does not even dress for games( not even sure he is even on the team still).
The sports budget is tight. Kids sell stuff to make money and go out on booster drives. Gate receipts help pay for other sports too. I would bet my house that Collins lockerroom and weight room is 10 times better than Highlands. We do not have best facilities, money does not flow like water in Ft Thomas like people think, the school budget is very tight.
Highlands does run a lot of players in and out. They will run 7-8 WR's in and out each play and make DB's and safeties run 40 yards every play. They run a lot of linemen in and out too. The line are fit guys, not fat like a lot of high school lines. You will see all 11 players run from play to play the entire game, no walking. They wear other teams down who are not in shape. Highlands is very well coached with players who are smart and know the game. The players will know all about Collins,who the players maker are,tendencies,ect They will not over look Collins and be ready for this game just like any other game

[sstack]

No apologies or sugarcoating necessary on this DISCUSSION board. Didn't hurt my feelings, I love this stuff. I believe in trying to be positive, better for the kids, the schools, programs, fans, this board, etc. Collins has played respectable schedule over the last three years, played several 6A schools, beat some, had to play every game on the road last year due to home field problems - again, they can only play the team in front of them. When you are a new school, you don't always have a choice of schedule. I noticed Highlands has 122 players and Collins has 54. How many of those Highlands kids play on average in a game? The depth of Highlands alone is mind-boggling. Wish we had it. Just curious, what is their football budget? Does Chris Collingsworth coach for the team?

Collins did play a much much better schedule than WE,that is main reason I picked Collins to win. A lot of people refuse too accept the fact that a strong schedule makes your team better

[SimpTitan]

No doubt Highlands has got the numbers on Collins in every category. If we had 91 players on varsity, we definitely would deal better with the fatigue factor. We play several players both ways. We are not a big team. Collins lineman have been looking up to their opponent every game. We have won our games with our speed and Highlands will not be the first team we have faced this year with more speed in just about every position..Boyle Cty and Eastern were alot better than us at the time, Bryan Station's QB beat us in OT with his speed on a rainy, cold, windy night at their place. Based on stats, Highlands should beat Collins by 50+, but regardless of the final score, the Collins kids will not have anything to hang their heads about. It will be a privilege to play Highlands, like getting to play Trinity. Perhaps Highlands would have beaten Trinity last night? I noticed Highlands manhandled Scott Cty earlier in the year. Again, hope it is a good, injury-free game. Highlands and Collins can both be proud of what they have accomplished this year.

[skycvg]

No doubt Highlands has got the numbers on Collins in every category. If we had 91 players on varsity, we definitely would deal better with the fatigue factor. We play several players both ways. We are not a big team. Collins lineman have been looking up to their opponent every game. We have won our games with our speed and Highlands will not be the first team we have faced this year with more speed in just about every position..Boyle Cty and Eastern were alot better than us at the time, Bryan Station's QB beat us in OT with his speed on a rainy, cold, windy night at their place. Based on stats, Highlands should beat Collins by 50+, but regardless of the final score, the Collins kids will not have anything to hang their heads about. It will be a privilege to play Highlands, like getting to play Trinity. Perhaps Highlands would have beaten Trinity last night? I noticed Highlands manhandled Scott Cty earlier in the year. Again, hope it is a good, injury-free game. Highlands and Collins can both be proud of what they have accomplished this year.

I may be new to this forum as far as postings go, but I have been an avid reader for the past few years. I don't think SSStack has ever posted anything resembling a put down or derogatory comments towards another competitor. Postings are usually very insightful and respectful. Everyone knows this is a discussion board, no need to use all caps...

I hope that no one said that the boys from Collins should hang their heads. Three years and in the state championships? They all should be commended. Cooper, 5A semi-final winner from Boone County, has built their state appearance up in the last 5 years. Great to see these programs coming into their own.

The "East" side of the bracket is loaded with a lot of talent, but they also have a lot more history than Collins does, and that is not a slam, just a fact. Yes, HHS does have a larger roster, and it does make platooning much easier. But you may find that with your state appearance this year, win or lose, you will increase your roster next year with those wanting to be part of a winning history. It will make them want to work even harder, learn faster, condition more in the off season.

As a parent, watching your son walk out on that field at state, makes all the sacrifice worth it. And when they get a taste of a state championship game, they only want more. That is what keeps them going through winter workouts, spring ball, summer heat, and winter cold.

Congrats to Collins! See you next Friday night!

[tradition]

Highlands football began in 1915. They only began counting championships in 1960. Since then Highlands has won 21 football titles.

Collins is an up and coming program and it is remarkable how far they have come in only a few years.

Highlands has approximately 85 players. During playoffs they move the 30 to 40 or so Freshman up that make it look like even more. Great experience for the freshman to be apart of the playoff and state experience.

Highlands has never been known for being large but for being quick. Sounds like Collins is similar there.

This should be a great championship game . I am not counting my chickens yet. I know heart can go along way in winning games.

Go Birds.

[Do-double-gg]

Collins did play a much much better schedule than WE,that is main reason I picked Collins to win. A lot of people refuse too accept the fact that a strong schedule makes your team better

Then I want to hear you explain away the Hazard-Fairview game.
Hazard had one of the toughest schedules in 1a this year and Fairview had probably one of if not the weakest and Hazard was the defending state champ with a lot of players returning and yet Fairview beat em like they stole something 40-6. On the contrary people refuse to accept the fact that a strong schedule helps very little. The only thing I think a strong schedule does is expose your weaknesses and gives you a good idea on what you need to work on but I don't think it helps you beat any given team. I have always and always will believe that the team who wins a game is the better team on that given day or just flat the better team period. A lot of things go into who wins a game like coaching and preparation like film study and practice. You also have things like how the teams styles match up so in the grand scheme of things strenght of schedule has very little if anything to do with it. IMO and experience strenght of schedule is about as reliable as comparing common opponents and scores. I believe that three things have the most impact on the outcome of a game and those three things are.
#1Coaching
#2Preparation
#3Execution and all three of these things are magnified with a lot of talented players.

[Do-double-gg]

I'm not trying to sound like a smart ass but I think people just put a little to much in the whole streinght of schedule thing. I been doing things like football pick'em and stuff like this for years and I've got pritty good at it and I did ok with the high school pick'em on BGR for this to be my 1st year and knowing nothing about the teams except what I look up online. I have got burned more times then not using streingth of schedule because there are so many more factors that go into the winner of a game that have a greater impact and will negate streingth of schedule and the Fairview-Hazard game was a prime example. Fairview just flat out game planned and out talented Hazard. I did ok this year choosing the winners and streingth of schedule is not something I look at.

[sstack]

I'm not trying to sound like a smart ass but I think people just put a little to much in the whole streinght of schedule thing. I been doing things like football pick'em and stuff like this for years and I've got pritty good at it and I did ok with the high school pick'em on BGR for this to be my 1st year and knowing nothing about the teams except what I look up online. I have got burned more times then not using streingth of schedule because there are so many more factors that go into the winner of a game that have a greater impact and will negate streingth of schedule and the Fairview-Hazard game was a prime example. Fairview just flat out game planned and out talented Hazard. I did ok this year choosing the winners and streingth of schedule is not something I look at.

Fairview is one example and yes on occasion a team with a poor schedule will win the big game. Fairview is not exactly a good example though, they returned a lot from a good team last year so have a lot of experience playing together. I still think they would be better if they played a better schedule and it may bite them in the butt in the championship game. There is no way you can tell me that playing better competition does not make your team better and more prepared for similar talent come playoff time. It is the same in any sport. Athletes do their best when pushed by other quality athletes that are as good or better than they are.

[blue1424]

Fairview is one example and yes on occasion a team with a poor schedule will win the big game. Fairview is not exactly a good example though, they returned a lot from a good team last year so have a lot of experience playing together. I still think they would be better if they played a better schedule and it may bite them in the butt in the championship game. There is no way you can tell me that playing better competition does not make your team better and more prepared for similar talent come playoff time. It is the same in any sport. Athletes do their best when pushed by other quality athletes that are as good or better than they are.

I agree that playing better competition does make your team better. It doesn't mean that you'll win every game, but it will make you better. Playing teams like Meade County, Boyle County, Eastern, and Bryan Station on the road definitely made Collins more prepared for a state semifinal game than Warren East. Collins had already played many teams that were better than Warren East and Warren East hadn't played anyone nearly as good as Collins and it showed Friday night.

[Do-double-gg]

I never said that it can't make you better. I did say that playing a tough team can expose your weakness and show you what you need to work on. The problem I have is so many people look at who has had the strongest schedule to decide who they think will win a game. When you look at a season of football and compare the winners that had the strongest schedule to the winners who had the weaker schedule it is about 50-50. The teams who had the strong schedules will be a little bit better average wise but, this has a lot to do with the fact that usually the teams who were very good the year before schedule stronger teams and so they were probably just flat out better then the team they play with the weak schedule from the get go. What I am talking about is teams who are close in skill and talent and coaching. Some peole like in the Fairview and Hazard game the first and sometimes only thing they look at in picking a winner is who had the stronger schedule and this just don't work. I broke this game down a week before the game and I was looking at how both teams matched up style wise and how the Fairview O line looked against the Hazard D line and stuff like this. When I got done what I had was something telling me that Hazard would not match up well with Fairview at all and the score of the game reflected this. I also think people will look just a little bit harder at the Fairview schedule now that they see how they beat Hazard because teams like Raceland and Pikeville were a lot better then what people would give credit for. I believe Raceland was good enough to beat Hazard. Fairviews schedule was not as weak as some thaught, Fairview is just that good and that is why they are in the championship. You dont get all the way to the big game hiding behind weak competition because you will get exposed at some time or another.

[Do-double-gg]

I agree that playing better competition does make your team better. It doesn't mean that you'll win every game, but it will make you better. Playing teams like Meade County, Boyle County, Eastern, and Bryan Station on the road definitely made Collins more prepared for a state semifinal game than Warren East. Collins had already played many teams that were better than Warren East and Warren East hadn't played anyone nearly as good as Collins and it showed Friday night.

So you think this was all because of strength of schedule?
You don't think that Collins could have just been more talented,better coached, had a better game plan or that Warren East just didn't match up well with Collins???

[Do-double-gg]

I give up:igiveup: I've had this same discussion with other people on here and it's pointless. People just keep picking winners because of strength of schedule and I just keep proving em wrong. I will give any person on BGR or on this thread this challenge. Next year on the high school football pick'em challenge I want you to play if you don't already. I want you to go through the whole season and pick your winners by strength of schedule and I will pick my way and then we will see how that turns out for ya!

[sstack]

So you think this was all because of strength of schedule?
You don't think that Collins could have just been more talented,better coached, had a better game plan or that Warren East just didn't match up well with Collins???

You can not tell me that you did not look at WE schedule and see that it was God awful! I hate to say negative things about a team but that was a pathetic schedule for a 4A team. You have to take that into consideration. They played poor 1A,2a,3A teams and the 4A teams in their district were bad. They played zero competition. Collins is average team but at least they played a few quality teams. A team that has played zero competition is not going to be ready for the late rounds of the playoffs. I do not pick strictly by schedule but you do have to put it in the mix.

[Do-double-gg]

You can not tell me that you did not look at WE schedule and see that it was God awful! I hate to say negative things about a team but that was a pathetic schedule for a 4A team. You have to take that into consideration. They played poor 1A,2a,3A teams and the 4A teams in their district were bad. They played zero competition. Collins is average team but at least they played a few quality teams. A team that has played zero competition is not going to be ready for the late rounds of the playoffs. I do not pick strictly by schedule but you do have to put it in the mix.

Yes the WE schedule was bad but this had nothing to do with a 51 point margin. Collins was better and more talented at just about every aspect and position of the game then WE.

[blue1424]

So you think this was all because of strength of schedule?
You don't think that Collins could have just been more talented,better coached, had a better game plan or that Warren East just didn't match up well with Collins???

No, I don't think that Collins won because of their strength of schedule, they were clearly much more talented and better coached, but I do believe that playing better competition makes you a better team. It doesn't mean that you will win just because your schedule is tougher than your opponents, but it does help you be more prepared for tougher opponents.