Collegiate preps for title march

The Collegiate Cougars' quest for a fifth state championship in six years will officially commence on a high note.

Yesterday's 37-14 pasting of rival St. Christopher's on a picture-perfect afternoon leaves only Collegiate's first-round playoff opponent to be decided. The Cougars could face Benedictine, with the site to be determined. Pairings should be released today.

But first, there was yesterday's unfinished business.

Just about the only thing that went right for the Saints through the first three quarters was winning the opening coin flip.

They managed a seven-play drive to start the game, but were forced to punt after reaching the Collegiate 39. When Cougars quarterback Jake McGee entered the game for the first time, it was the beginning of the end.

McGee marched his team down the field in eight plays on its opening possession, finishing with a 4-yard touchdown strike to 6-3 wideout Stephen Stites. Included in the drive was a 23-yard hookup with Stites on a fourth-and-nine.

McGee also provided the Cougars' second touchdown with his 7-yard return of John Stilwell's fumble. He finished the day 27 for 37 for 344 yards and four touchdowns.

After the game, McGee was more excited about his defensive score than his offensive prowess.

"That was awesome," he said of the fumble return. "They've been moving me up the [defensive] box this week. It bounced right to me. It was pretty sweet."

Saints running back Kurt Fleming, who entered the game seventh in the area in rushing at 112.9 yards a game, was more of a spectator at the start, as Thompson Brown (6-3, 205) was given the bulk of the carries early on. While it worked to some degree as Brown was able to use his large frame to gain yards, Fleming wasn't able to flash his game-breaking ability until the Saints were playing catch-up.

"[Fleming's] been their main ball carrier this year," said Collegiate's second-year coach Mark Palyo. "We don't have huge guys up front, and they tried pounding bigger guys at us. That's a good move."

Fleming ended the day with 136 yards on 13 carries, but his first carry of the game didn't come until the first quarter had almost ended.

Half of Stites' six catches ended up in the end zone, and he finished the day with 85 yards through the air.

Regardless, the day belonged to the efficient and often brilliant McGee.

"We've been waiting all week for this game," he said. "Hopefully, we have two more weeks left [in the playoffs]. We're trying to win that state title, bring it back."

Said Palyo, who's team handed the ball off only five times: "Jake played really well today. We hope we're at that prime point of the season in terms of functioning."

You likely won't get any arguments from the Saints.
Contact Shawn Fenner at (804) 649-6412 or .

C - Stites 4 pass from McGee (Sharpe kick)

C - McGee 7 fumble return (Sharpe kick)

C - Stites 16 pass from McGee (Sharpe kick)

C - Stites 2 pass from McGee (kick blocked)

C - FG Sharpe 30

SC - Halsey 10 pass from Stillwell (Vozenilek kick)

C - Gorrell 7 pass from McGee (Sharpe kick)

SC - Fleming 53 run (Vozenilek kick)
RUSHING

St. Christopher's: Fleming 13-136, Brown 11-69, Freeman 4-17, Stillwell 2-8, Huesman 1-(minus-1). Collegiate: McGee 5-48, Harper 4-14, Hart 1-6
PASSING

St. Christopher's: Stillwell 2-9-27 yards, Huesman1-4-8 Collegiate: McGee 27-37 344
RECEIVING

St. Christopher's: Wittenauer 1-17, Halsey 1-9, McCusty 1-8 Collegiate: Gorrell 9-148, Stites 6-85, Newsome 4-40, Wiltshire 3-22, Corrigan 2-21, Kelley 2-14, Richardson 1-9, Sillah 1-5.