Class 5A Title Game Top Performers

<em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em> The final game of the State Championship Weekend was Class 5A, and it proved to be more than worth the wait. Both teams started on fire and delivered a classic performance in the 42-35 win for Collinsville. Here’s a look at the top performers from that contest! [player_tooltip player_id="51256" first="Andrew" last="Carney"] - 2022 Quarterback (MVP) It was a second half to remember for Collinsville senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="51256" first="Andrew" last="Carney"] and the Cardinals on offense. While McAlester struggled down the stretch, the Cardinals never wavered. Carney was efficient once again throwing and running the ball. In the first half he made big time throws that helped Collinsville keep pace in the big play department. He finished the night 8-13 for 128 yards and two touchdowns. In the second half the physical quarterback also got it done on the ground. He had 121 yards on 20 carries with four touchdowns, including the game-winning touchdown with just under two minutes to play in the game. [player_tooltip player_id="61136" first="Brayden" last="Gilkey"] - 2022 Running Back Most of the talk on Saturday night was around McAlester’s star running back and what he was doing on the UCO field. However, Collinsville’s running back was not too shabby either. Senior [player_tooltip player_id="61136" first="Brayden" last="Gilkey"] led the Cardinals with 169 yards on 16 carries and was an absolute bulldozer in the second half. To go along with grinding out the tough yards, he also was able to rip off a pair of big gains where he showed great balance and strentgh to break tackles and rumble down the field. He also chipped in on defense and was a big part in slowing down McAlester’s offense in the second half. [player_tooltip player_id="91049" first="Erik" last="McCarty"] - 2023 Running Back If McAlester had won, this junior would be one of the easiest picks for MVP of all the championship games. The McAlester junior running back could not be stopped by anyone other than cramps in the second half. In the first half he made jaw dropping play after player, combining elusiveness and strength in ripping off big runs. Which he then backed up on the defensive end, by flying and making tackle after tackle.  McCarty finished with 268 yards and four touchdowns on 31 carries. He also led the team in tackles with 11. McCarty and the Buffaloes came up just short of the title, and the star junior left it all on the field. Lleyton Bass - 2022 Wide Receiver McAlester’s offense was led by the running game on Saturday but the passing game also chipped in. The leading receiver for the Buffaloes was senior Lleyton Bass, who had 62 yards on 4 catches. And with McCarty struggling with cramps, Bass and the McAlester passing game stepped up. [player_tooltip player_id="64382" first="Oscar" last="Hammond"] - 2022 Wide Receiver The final part of Collinsville’s "Big Three" is senior wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id="64382" first="Oscar" last="Hammond"]. The senior wideout had been quiet in the playoffs with Carney and Gilkey doing the majority of heavy lifting offensively. However, Hammond came up big in the first half with a pair of touchdown receptions. He ended up with seven catches for 119 yards and the pair of touchdowns on the biggest stage. His first score was a big time grab where he "Moss’d" the defender in the endzone. For the second score, he broke a tackle near the goalline and found pay-dirt. Hammond is without a doubt one of the most underrated receivers in the state and he left his mark in the state title game. Trent Boatright - 2022 Quarterback McAlester senior quarterback Trent Boatright was an absolute warrior on Saturday even though the Buffaloes came up short. Boatright kept coming and kept coming and had the Buffaloes driving with the hope of extending the game to overtime. He finished 10-17 for 126 yards and also added a rushing touchdown.