With 5:25 left in the game, Gaylesville quarterback Cain Higgins called his own number and ran four yards for a touchdown. The Trojans took a 28-7 lead and managed to hold out for their fifth win of the season and the team’s first playoff berth in 11 years.
“Our defense played great, and our offensive line controlled the game,” said Gaylesville head coach Brian Clowdis. “We played with a lot of confidence, and we feel that we’re tough to beat when we play that way.”
Gaylesville (5-2, 4-1) totaled 243 rushing yards and 268 total yards.
The Trojan defense put the clamps on the Panthers (3-4, 2-3), allowing only 43 rushing yards and 128 total yards.
Tyler Bradford led the Trojans with 96 yards rushing on 18 carries, while C.J Murphy went for 77 yards in 23 carries.
Higgins was 2-of-4 with 25 yards passing.
Defensively, Caleb McCord led Gaylesville with four sacks.
Robert Gray led Collinsville in rushing with 29 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.
Gray also completed 2-of-13 passes for 85 yards and a touchdown.
Murphy managed to recover a fumble for the Trojans on the Panthers’ second offensive play.
Gaylesville’s offense took advantage of the short field.
The Trojans started from the Collinsville 35 and managed to make the Panthers pay when Higgins found paydirt on a quarterback keeper for a 20-yard touchdown run.
Robert Gollhardt connected on the PAT, and the Trojans led 7-0 with 6:36 left in the first quarter.
Collinsville started its next series on its own 33, and nothing worked right for the Panthers.
Caleb McCord and Adam Sharp managed to get a sack on the series and help to force a punt.
Collinsville’s defense answered the call and forced a fumble on the next Trojan drive.
Kory Oliver recovered the loose ball, and the Panthers started on their own 39 to end the first quarter.
The second quarter proved to be no better for the Panthers, as they were again forced to punt.
The Trojans started on the Panther 44, and again were set up with decent field position.
Gaylesville had a host of players carry the ball, but it was Higgins that finally scampered 13 yards for another touchdown.
Gollhardt again connected on the PAT, and the Trojans led 14-0 with 7:11 left in the half.
Collinsville got the ball to start the second half, but the Trojan defense forced the fourth Panther punt of the night.
Gaylesville took over on the Trojan 28 and drove down the field in 13 plays to the Panther 33.
Collinsville forced a turnover on downs, but not before the Trojan offense had ate the clock down to 3:37 left in the third.
The Panthers again were forced into a punting situation on their next possession.
Collinsville attempted a fake punt, but the play was denied by the Gaylesville defense.
The third quarter ended as the Trojans started their next drive on their own 47-yard line.
Tyler Bradford helped keep the momentum going into the fourth as he ran the ball four straight times to get the ball down to the Panther 18.
Higgins then kept the ball on an option to the right and found his way to the end zone for another touchdown.
Gollhardt was again good on the PAT, and the Trojans led 21-0 with 8:52 left in the game.
The Panthers spread the ball out on their next possession and finally found an open receiver.
Robert Gray managed to give Collinsville faithful some hope as he connected with Paden Sharpe for a 46-yard touchdown pass.
Phil Hernandez hit the PAT, and the Panthers trailed 21-7.
Gaylesville answered on the very next possession.
Bradford managed to break a 29-yard run down to the Collinsville 4, and Higgins again called his number and found the end zone with his feet.
Gollhardt stayed perfect on the night, and extended the Trojan lead to 28-7 with 5:25 left in the game.
Collinsville managed to score one more time as Gray led the Panthers down to the Gaylesville 5 and punched the ball in himself. Hernandez missed the PAT, and the Gaylesville lead was 28-13.
Gaylesville travels to the coldest place in Alabama next week, as the Trojans head to Valley Head
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