A Glorious Return

That’s the glass-half-empty version, of course.

The glass-half-full take on the Collegiate football team’s Covid-mandated dearth of actual game competition since their 2019 season finale is that the Cougars had plenty of time to prepare for their 2021 opener September 3 with VHSL Class 3 powerhouse Goochland.

They weren’t literally preparing each day, though, at least not in the sense of executing plays, running drills, refining technique, and poring over scouting reports.

Instead, they were preparing in their heads and hearts to distance themselves from the disappointment of the missed 2020 season and return to action, as if on a mission, with all the tenacity, adrenaline, and emotion they could muster.

Mission accomplished: Collegiate 21, Goochland 0. 

“It’s almost hard to think that it’s been that long since the Collegiate Cougars played a live game,” said head coach Mark Palyo. “Here we are at Goochland on a Friday night under the lights. If there was an environment to break back into padded football, this is it right here: Friday Night Lights.

“I told the boys at the beginning of the week that Football Friday was coming. They were anticipating it. I’m just really proud of them. They worked hard for this. They played with energy, enthusiasm, and the support of one another. One thing I asked them was at the end of the game to be able to look to the guy next to them and be able to tell him, ‘I gave my all for my team.’”

Did we say, Mission accomplished?

Facing an experienced and always well-coached Goochland defensive unit, senior quarterback Owen Fallon completed 13-of-16 passes (to seven different receivers) for 257 yards and two touchdowns.

All told, the Cougars ran 55 plays and amassed 339 yards, 257 through the air and 82 on the ground, and recorded nine first downs.

“Goochland wanted to stack the box,” Palyo said. “We knew our line had to execute, and we thought we could get them (the Bulldogs) on the outside. We took a couple of early shots to see if we could get them on their heels so we could open up the running game.”

The Cougars’ first drive began at their 10-yard line following a 40-yard Tyler Black punt.

Their first exchange from center was high, and Fallon reeled it in but was overwhelmed by defenders at the 2.

“I’ve always worked to improve the mental side of football and mindfulness,” Fallon said referencing the inauspicious first touch. “It’s crucial that when something goes wrong, you have to let it go, get back up, and move forward.  We did a good job of facing adversity throughout the game, especially on that play.”

On the ensuing snap, Fallon hit L.J. Booker with a quick out, and the lightning-quick sophomore raced untouched to the Bulldogs’ 6 before a red-jerseyed defender hauled down from behind. Two plays later, at 7:44 of the first quarter, Fallon raced in from the five, and Patrick Brennan added the first of his three extra points.

“We knew they were going to run this one high-safety look,’ Fallon said of his strike to Booker. “It was a simple read. I just had to look him off to the left, and I knew L.J. would be running free on the right side. They don’t usually play a lot of pass-heavy teams, so we knew we could attack them in the air raid. We used that against them right from the jump.”

After Christian Miller recovered a Goochland fumble near midfield, Fallon directed the Cougars on a five-play, 52-yard drive that ended when he hit Jalen Pierce in the right corner of the end zone from 18 yards out at 2:35 of the first period.

“We had both post routes on the left side,” Fallon explained. “The play was crumbling in on me, and I knew I had to get out of the pocket so I scrambled out right and saw Jalen coming from the left. He had a little bit of room. I put it up there for him. I knew he’d make a play. We practice scramble drill all the time in practice, and it showed up here.”

The Bulldogs’ defense adjusted and intensified its pressure on Fallon, sacking him five times but hardly deterring him.

Early in the final quarter, he orchestrated a nine-play, 71-yard drive that culminated when he connected with Miller, a lineman on defense and a tight end on offense, from 25-yards out.

“We wanted to isolate Krystian Williams on left side on a go route,” Fallon explained. “Their safety’s a good player. He knew it was going to go over there, so it was a simple look-him-off to the left side. I knew Christian would be right there in the middle, and he made a great play.”

Collegiate limited Goochland (1-1) to just 51 yards (and one first down) on 25 plays. The Bulldogs surrendered three fumbles and found themselves in field-position purgatory much of the night. Their deepest foray into the visitors’ territory came in early in the third quarter when they reached the 13, but a 30-yard field goal sailed wide right.

“They have a lot of athletes on offense and were really big up front,” said defensive coordinator Collin McConaghy. “They have a lot of speed-sweep stuff that would go outside, and they had their counter package off of it.  We did a lot of movement up front just to keep them guessing. Our kids were extremely assignment-sound but, more importantly, more aggressive to the ball. It was 11 hats to the ball every play. This was a really good showing for us.”

Of the Cougars’ 50-player roster, only eight have suited up previously for a varsity football game. Despite the extended off-season and just three weeks of pre-season and one scrimmage (against Powhatan), the Cougars executed their 4-3 defensive scheme with few signs of inexperience or rust.

“We knew we had a pretty good team and a good chance coming into this,” said junior linebacker Hayden Rollison. “We were definitely ready.  I give it all to the scout offense and coaches. We watched film. We knew who their main guys were. Our coaches broke everything down, every formation they have. Our defense was ready for it. Their guards are their main blockers for every single scheme, and our linebackers followed them wherever they went. As long as we got all of our bodies there, then we’re going to find the ball.”

With a large vocal and enthusiastic contingent filling the visitors-side stands and lining the fence behind them, the Cougars maintained their intensity for 48 minutes.

“That’s the resilient nature of this team,” said Palyo, who’s headed the football program since 2007. “From the beginning of the year, I’ve said that our seniors are a driving force on this team. They helped everybody rally and power through, and having the fans there to cheer us on was definitely a big emotional boost for our team.”

Collegiate…………….14   0    0   7  - 21
Goochland……………0     0    0   0  -  0

Col – Owen Fallon 5 run (Patrick Brennan kick)
Col – Jalen Pierce 18 pass from Owen Fallon (Patrick Brennan kick)
Col – Christian Miller 25 pass from Owen Fallon (Patrick Brennan kick)

RUSHING
Col – Donovan Williams 24 carries, 68 yards, Owen Fallon 15-14.
Goo – Gabe Liptak 3-15, Kendrick Quarles 4-14, C.J. Towles 6-7, Derek Pierce 1-3, Jaquel Young 1-2, Jermiyah Mills 1-minus 3, Jamason Pryor 3-minus 3.

PASSING
Col – Owen Fallon 13 completions, 16 attempts, 0 interceptions, 257 yards.
Goo – C.J. Towles 4-7-0-16

RECEIVING
Col – L.J. Booker 2 receptions, 101 yards, Krystian Williams 3-53, Donovan Williams 3-35, Christian Miller 1-25, Hayden Rollison 2-20, Jalen Pierce 1-18, Coley Alvis 1-5.
Goo – Derek Pierce 1-9, Eyan Pace 1-7, Gabe Liptak 2-minus 2.