Staff Reports

CROSSVILLE – Collinsville junior quarterback Keaton Deboard’s 11-yard touchdown run with 2:10 remaining and senior kicker Tristan Gallegos’ extra point provided the Panthers with a dramatic 21-20 football win at Crossville on Friday night.

Deboard, who ran for 144 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries, got the Panthers (1-1) on the scoreboard first on an 11-yard run. Gallegos connected on the extra point to give Collinsville a 7-0 edge with 4:56 remaining in the first quarter.

Crossville (0-2) countered with a Caleb Causey 1-yard touchdown run with 2:14 to go in the first half. The point after was no good, keeping the score at 7-6.

The Lions were able to take the lead with 25 seconds left before halftime on Steven Juan’s 76-yard fumble return for a score. The try for two failed, but Crossville held the lead at 12-7.

Deboard scored his second touchdown with 4:49 remaining in the third quarter on a 9-yard run, putting the Panthers back out in front 14-12.

Crossville regained the lead again on another Causey 1-yard run with 6:01 left in the game. David Lesley ran in for the 2-point conversion, giving the Lions a 20-14 advantage.

That set the stage for Deboard’s game-tying touchdown and Gallegos’ extra point that put the Panthers ahead to stay.

“We responded well at the end of the game,” Collinsville coach Ernie Willingham said. “I thought that we tackled better and blocked better this week, but we’ve got to get better.”

Deboard also passed for 71 yards and had 2 kickoff returns totaling 69 yards. Colton Wills ran for 29 yards and had 63 yards receiving. He also had 32 yards on a kickoff and punt return. Fernando Padilla had 2 fumble recoveries.

Collinsville opens Class 3A, Region 7 play at defending state champion Fyffe next Friday.