8/13/2019 2013 Kentucky High School Football Class 4-A Champion: Collins

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CLASS 4-A FINAL   C O M M E M O R A T I V E P O S T E RS U N D A Y , D E C . 8 , 2 0 1 3

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Officialsand Collins High School coach Jer-ry Lucas just couldn’t come to anagreement near the end of Satur-day’s Class 4-A football statecham-pionship game.

Referees deemed Collins quar-terback Lawson Page’s helmet felloff at the end of the previous play,while Lucas insisted it was rippedoff. Either way, due to KHSAArules the starting quarterback hadto sit out the next play — the big-gestin Collins’ four-year existence.

Facing fourth down in the redzonewith13 secondsleft, theTitanskept their fate in the family. Back-up Browning Becherer, Page’scousin, came off the bench and ri-fleda 12-yardtouchdownpass to se-cure a 37-34 victory over perennialpower Fort Thomas Highlands,No. 1 in The Courier-Journal’s Lit-kenhous Ratings.

“The amazing thingfor meis, wecall timeout, set the play and haveeverything ready to go,” Lucassaid. “Then in a split second, we’vegot to change quarterbacks. Italked to (Becherer) — told himwhat we’ve got — and sent him outthere.

“It was beautiful.”Becherer looked right, pumpfaked and then rifled a pass overthe middle to Sames, who had al-ready caught five passes earlier inthe dayfrom Page. Registered withseven seconds left, the touchdownserved as the final Collins (13-2) an-

swer to three Highlands scores inthe fourth quarter.

The Bluebirds (13-2) used longtouchdown plays — passes of 34and 42 yards from quarterbackDrewHouliston — followed by run-ning back Zach Harris’ 1-yardlunge to the end zone in rallyingfrom a 23-14 deficit.

But Collins, a Shelby Countyschoolopened in 2010, always hadaresponse.

TheTitans’ final drive measured80 yards on nine plays, eight ofwhich were run with Page undercenter. Then referees told Pagefourth down was a no-go.

“Iwas upset,” hesaid. “Butwhenreality setin I waslike, ‘Browning’san awesome quarterback who’s go-ing to get the job done.’ ”

“He’smy cousin, andI want tobejust like him,” Becherer, a junior,said of the senior Page. “I was ner-vous,but I didn’thavetime to thinkofit.I justdidwhat had tobe done.”

Page completed 15 of 23 passesfor 178 yards and a touchdown. Healso rushedfor108yards, secondtorunning back Ryan Watkins’ 121.Western Kentucky commitDeAndreFarrisadded 43 yards and

a pair of touchdowns, both of themin the second half.Bythat time, Collins had well es-

tablishedits intentionsof not goingaway.

“They’re a good football team,”saidHighlands coach DaleMueller.“Ifoneguy’sout, thenext guyhasto

come in. … Their second guy wasready to come in and make a play.”

Collins elected to receive theopening kick, a decision that ap-peared unwise when Masai Whytemuffed it and the Titans startedtheir drive at the 8-yard line. Butusing a misdirection running at-tack and short passes, Page guidedCollins to a 13-play, 92-yard touch-down drive.

“We talked andthoughtwe need-ed something to go well early forthem to believe,” Lucas said.

Added Page: “The first time wescored — right when we drovedown andscored, we knew this wasour game.”

Collins pulled away from High-lands on Farris’ and Sames’ firstscores of the day in the third quar-ter. TheTitanssaved a tearful cele-bration for the final buzzer.

Since comingto Collins from hisjobas anassistant atShelby Countyin 2010, Lucas has led the Titans tofour winning seasons and two statechampionship appearances. Lucasstared his ultimate goal — a pro-gram amongthe likes of Highlands— in the face on Saturday.

The Bluebirds, winners of five

straight championships before Sat-urday, beat Collins 47-0 in lastyear’s game to win their state-rec-ord 22nd title.

“That’s what we’re trying tobuild,” Lucassaid. “and this is obvi-ously one more huge step in us get-ting there.”

TITANICSTUNNER

BACKUP QB BECHERER RIFLES WINNING TOUCHDOWN

Collins lineman Buck Wilson celebrates with wide receiver Maliek Winfrey after their 37-34 victory over Highlands in KHSAA 4-A state championship final. IAN MAULE/SPECIAL TO THE C-J

By Jonathan Lintner  |   jlintner@courier-journal.com  | The Courier-Journal   KEYSTATS

13Seconds left when backupBrowning Becherer cameoff the bench and rifled a

12-yard touchdown pass to secure a37-34 victory.

121Rushing yards forCollins running backRyan Watkins

286Total yards forCollins quarterbackLawson Page, who

completed15 of 23 passes for 178yards and a touchdown, and rushedfor 108 yards.

COURIER-JOURNAL.COM

View a photo gallery fromCollins’ state final at

www.courier-journal.com/sports

User:   jpatterson   Time:   12-07-2013 21:55   Product:   LCJBrd2   PubDate:   .Bank    Zone:   KY   Edition:   1   Page:  FBH_Class4A   Color: CMYK