Collinsville captains aim for playoff berth

Earning a playoff berth in the rugged Southwestern Conference is tough for  any team, but when you lose your first two games before even getting to the SWC  portion of the schedule, the task becomes nearly impossible.

After starting last year with non-conference losses to Althoff and Triad,  Collinsville took an 0-2 record into conference play. The Kahoks won their next  two games against Alton and Belleville West, but lost four of their last five  games.

“This year, if we come out hard and play smart like we’ve been doing all  summer, we can win those first two games and we’ll be in a lot better shape for  the first conference game,” said senior Quieron King, one of four team captains  for Collinsville.

“Coming out and getting two wins outside of the conference is really  important,” added senior Nick Reichert, another captain. “It sets the tone for  conference play.”

Along with fellow captains Drew Pikey and Henry Weinreich, the captains are  confident that the Kahoks will come out of the gate strong in 2012.

“We lost some key seniors, but some other people are stepping up,” Pikey  said. “We don’t have many stars, but we’ve set our goals really high.”

Collinsville will have a new look on offense this year and Pikey, as the most  experienced offensive lineman, is anxious to see what the Kahoks can do.

“We’ve implemented a tight end and a fullback and as always, we need to block  hard,” Pikey said. “We’re an in-your-face kind of blocking team, so nothing  really changes there. Now that I’m at right guard instead of center, I’m going  to pull a lot and we have a couple of plays set up where they can utilize me  there.”

The 6-foot-5 Pikey welcomes the position switch.

“It’s going to help me,” Pikey said. “At center, you worry about the snap  first and I’m a good snapper, but I probably won’t play center in college. I’m  not the right body type.

“I’m a lot bigger and stronger than last year (when he weighed 245). I got up  to 292, but I’m back down to 275, which is good weight for me. I’m fit and in  shape and I’m getting better.”

Pikey is drawing interest from several colleges.

“I’m academically focused, but I want to play football in college,” said  Pikey, who attended seven camps this summer. “I’m very interested in football  schools with high academic programs.”

Scoring more points is among the primary goals for Collinsville. Last season  the Kahoks broke the 20-point barrier only two times, and only once did they  score than 30, in a 32-20 victory over Belleville East in week eight.

“We have a better offense this year and that’s going to make a difference,” Weinreich said. “We may not have as much talent, but we have a good work  ethic.”

On defense, linebacker figures to be a strength with three captains at that  position. Those players realize that they’re expected to be leaders, whether in  games or on the practice field.

“The linebackers are the heart of the defense,” Weinreich said. “We’ve got to  help the other guys and make sure they’re doing the right things.”

“We’re the ones that people look up to because everything starts with us,” Reichert said. “If we’re not doing our jobs, nobody else will do theirs.”

The No. 1 goal for Collinsville is making the playoffs.

“Collinsville has qualified only three times and never won a game,” Reichert  said. “It would be nice to win one for the first time. To do that, we’ve got to  be able to finish games.”

“I started on a playoff team two years ago and I know what it takes,” Pikey  said. “Every little play matters and you can’t let big breakaway plays  happen.”