2010 Football Recap

by Bryan Holmgren ‘02

The typical Collegiate metric of state titles and league championships need not apply here. It’s hard not to be pleased with 2010’s second round playoff exit and AVCTL-IV runner-up status, if only because so much of it was so completely unexpected.

“We obviously want to win everything, but I was very happy with the way things came out,” said head coach Bill Messamore. “Coming into a new league and competing against schools twice our size – I think we answered a lot of questions.”

Namely, is the Collegiate program for real? Could they reload after graduating the most talented class of athletes in school history? More importantly, could they do it while navigating their toughest ever regular season schedule?

Yes, yes and yes.

The Spartans, playing with just five seniors, rolled to a 9-2 record in their first season as a member of the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League. During a particularly brutal stretch, they played five consecutive games against 4A playoff qualifiers, downing Rose Hill (28-15), Wellington (54-32), Circle (45-0) and Maize South (35-13). Their only loss came at the hands of powerhouse Andale (21-33) in a game they led at the half.

At the forefront was the two-headed monster of Phox and Taylor. Sophomore quarterback Markus Phox, in his first season as starter, surpassed all expectations, averaging 105 yards on the ground and 145 yards passing during league play. Senior running back Raymond Taylor (1469 rushing yards, 21 TD) was equally impressive, earning the nickname “the matador” in honor of his ability to evade tacklers. Both Taylor and Phox were near impossible to bring down on first contact. Not surprisingly, both were first team all-league selections.

“We played through injuries, and every single day the kids went out and tried to get better,” Messamore said. “We really rallied around each other.”

Ultimately those injuries, brought on by a lack of depth and the week-in-week-out pounding of the rugged AVCTL, were the difference. Phox suffered a broken collar bone late in a week six win over Maize South, ending his season and dramatically changing the Spartans’ offensive game plan heading into district play.

To their credit, Collegiate responded, rallying behind sophomore backup Forest Short for four consecutive wins. They outscored Douglass, Independent and Belle Plaine 183-14 to lock up a district title, then bounced Chaparral 42-6 in the opening round of the 3A playoffs.

The end of the line came four days later against Hutchinson Trinity. The Spartans dug a 23-0 halftime hole and struggled to put points on the board against a talented Celtic secondary. Isaiah Franklin broke a short touchdown run mid-way through the third to get Collegiate back within two scores. They had an opportunity to draw within a touchdown early in the fourth, but a drive stalled at the Trinity 25. The hosts tacked on a field goal shortly after to put the game out of reach, 26-8.

“My hat goes off to these seniors,” Messamore said. “There weren’t many of them, but their final record speaks for itself. 32-3 over their last three seasons of varsity football.”

Six Spartans earned first-team AVCTL Division IV honors on offense. Only Taylor graduates.

“We’ll return next year with five first-team all-conference players. Think about that,” said Messamore. “We’re excited for the future. I think our kids are hungry again.”

First Team All-AVCTL-IV

QB – Markus Phox – Soph – 63/103, 881 yards, 10 TD/ 88 carries, 635 yards, 10 TD
RB – Raymond Taylor – Senior – 165 carries, 1469 yards, 21 TD/ 17 catches, 298 yards, 2 TD
WR – William Short – Junior – 24 catches, 403 yards, 2 TD
DB/WR – Spenser Schooler – Soph – 20 catches, 289 yards, 5 TD
DE/OL – Trace Clark – Junior
LB/OL – Myles Copeland – Junior

Results: (9-2, 4-1 AVCTL-IV)

Clearwater – W (41-25)+
@ Rose Hill – W (28-15)
Wellington – W (54-32)+
@ Andale – L (21-33)+
Circle – W (45-0)+
@ Maize South – W (35-13)+
Belle Plaine – W (63-6)*
@ Independent – W (71-0)*
Douglass – W (49-8)*
Chaparral – W (42-6)#
@ Hutch Trinity – L (8-26)##

+- AVCTL-IV league game
*- 3A District 11 game
# - 3A Playoffs – First Round
## - 3A Playoffs – Second Round