COLLINSVILLE – This week, Collinsville coach Alan Beckett said the Panthers were due an upset.

Collinsville was granted its wish Friday night with a 28-20 comeback win over No. 8 Cedar Bluff in Class 1A, Region 6 play.

The win puts Collinsville (3-3, 2-2) tied for fourth place in the region with Valley Head and Gaylesville.

“It’s a great night to be a Panther,” Beckett said. “Our defensive line played really well. Cedar Bluff puts you in a bind, because they can run and pass. We had to play good, fundamental defense. We took away their run and made the pass, and we were able to get pressure on the quarterback.”

Down 20-13 going into the fourth quarter, Collinsville’s Chris Gogus recovered a Cedar Bluff (4-2, 2-2) fumble that set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Kenny Orr to put the Panthers in the lead 21-20 with 9:57 left.

After another fumble recovery by Collinsville’s Justin Irvine, quarterback Tray Reed hit Shon McElrath on a 40-yard touchdown pass to extend the Panthers lead to 28-20 with 7:56 left.

“They came back in the third and scored twice to go up a touchdown,” Beckett said. “At the end of the third, I called our guys together and told them we had to win the fourth quarter. We are finally having some inner confidence. Last year, against Cedar Bluff we played really well and were one play from beating them. As bad as that felt, this feels that much better.”

Collinsville jumped out to a 7-0 lead early in the first on a 57-yard touchdown run by McElrath. McElrath then added his second of three TDs on the night from 79 yards out with 7:44 left in the second to extend the Panthers lead to 13-0.

Cedar Bluff answered on its next possession on a 6-yard Marcus Reese touchdown run with 4:16 left in the second.

Tigers quarterback Kyle Crane then hit Travis Estes on a 10-yard touchdown pass with 4:28 left in the third to narrow the gap to 13-12.

Cedar Bluff took a 20-13 lead on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Levi Mintz to DeAngelo Hardy with 2:27 left in the third.

Jesse Chandler, Sharrard Crawley and Justin Gregory each had interceptions in the game for Collinsville. McElrath led the Panthers on offense with 186 yards on 11 carries.

Collinsville travels to face Gaylesville in region play on Friday, while Cedar Bluff entertains Spring Garden.