'It means everything': Collinsville ends Carl Albert's state title streak with 5A semifinal win

Carl Albert's Class 5A state title streak is officially over.

In what was one of the best games of the Oklahoma high school playoffs thus far, top-ranked Collinsville defeated the No. 3 Titans 27-20 Friday night in the semifinals at Western Heights, advancing to the title game against No. 2 McAlester (13-0) at the University of Central Oklahoma’s Chad Richison Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 4.

Carl Albert, the five-time defending champion, had never lost in the semifinals heading into Friday, holding a 17-0 record in those matchups. The Titans also had a 22-game win streak in the playoffs.

But the impressive play of Collinsville senior quarterback Andrew Carney and senior tailback Brayden Gilkey helped the Cardinals beat Carl Albert in the third semifinal matchup between the schools over the past four years.

“It means everything,” Collinsville coach Kevin Jones said. “These 22 seniors we have, we knew they were a special group since we got them in seventh grade. They’ve been a competitive, cocky group. We’ve tried the best to humble them, and they’ve become humble champions.”

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Collinsville’s offense consisted nearly entirely of running the ball with Carney and Gilkey. Each player ran for two scores, one in each half.

Overall, Carney had 33 carries for 174 yards. Gilkey had 23 attempts for 159 yards. Carney finished just 2-of-4 passing for 16 yards. Both completions were to Oscar Hammond in the second half.

“It’s very tiring, especially when you got some big cats in their backfield that are smoking you every play,” Carney said.

Collinsville (13-0) struck first against the Titans when Carney scored on a 2-yard run with 2:23 left in the first quarter to cap a 14-play, 87-yard drive.

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Carl Albert (10-3) took a 7-6 lead on a 13-yard touchdown run by star tailback Buddy Bizzell with 11:11 left in the second quarter, but Collinsville responded on its next possession with a 15-yard rushing score by Gilkey.

The top highlight of the night took place at the end of the half. Carl Albert quarterback Reed DeQuasie tossed a 30-yard touchdown to Trey Washington on a fly route in the end zone as time expired, and the Titans took a 14-13 lead into the break.

The teams battled in the second half.

Carney gave Collinsville a 19-14 lead with a touchdown run in the third, and DeQuasie scored on a 6-yard run with 9:33 left in the fourth. After a failed two-point try, Carl Albert led 20-19.

Collinsville essentially sealed the win with an 80-yard drive that lasted more than seven minutes and was capped by a 4-yard run by Gilkey.

Collinsville recovered the ensuing kickoff that was muffed and ran out the clock.

Reporter Nick Sardis covers high school sports across the Oklahoma City metro and state. Have a story idea for Nick? He can be reached at nsardis@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @nick_sardis. Support Nick’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at oklahoman.com/subscribe or by using the link at the top of this page.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OSSAA football: Collinsville ends Carl Albert's state title streak