Stanvon Taylor leads East Central past Collinsville

BY KELLY HINES World Sports Writer
Friday, October 19, 2012
10/19/12 at 3:54 AM

Mike Stoops missed the highlights of "The Stanvon Taylor Show" on Thursday night.

While propelling No. 2 East Central to a 36-26 victory against ninth-ranked Collinsville, Taylor accounted for three touchdowns in the second half of a critical District 5A-4 matchup.

"I've expected it all year from him, and he's never disappointed," first-year East Central coach Bobby Klinck said. "He's a hell of a player, such a good kid, such an ambassador for this program. I'm glad I got to coach him one year."

In addition to his touchdowns, Taylor had a two-point conversion catch and an interception on defense, both after halftime.

"I didn't play too well in the first half, so I just had to come out and turn it up a little bit," said Taylor, a receiver and cornerback who is verbally committed to OU.

Stoops, the Sooners' defensive coordinator, left at halftime to attend the Bartlesville-Union game across town. When he departed the East Side Sports Complex, East Central led 8-7 after an early defensive battle in which neither team reached 150 total yards in the first half.

Taylor got his team rolling with a 71-yard touchdown pass to Deontre Youngblood on a trick play and caught the conversion to put the home team on top 16-13.

A 12-yard touchdown grab by Taylor followed, but Collinsville (6-2, 3-2) did not go away quietly.

After failing to recover two onside kicks in the first half, the third attempt was successful and set up a 3-yard touchdown run by Connor Crutchfield to retake the lead 26-22 midway through the fourth quarter.

On the ensuing drive, Trevaughn Cherry hit Taylor on a 45-yard strike and again on one good for 17 yards and the go-ahead touchdown.

East Central's defense, led by Taylor and linebacker Kimmie Carson, contained Collinsville in the final five minutes, while a 3-yard William Goree touchdown run was the nail in the coffin.

With the win, East Central (4-4, 4-1) and Claremore are tied for the district lead, but the Cardinals have the head-to-head advantage. If they win their final two games, they will win the district.

"These kids have been through a lot," said Klinck, referring to two offseason head-coaching changes and having to forfeit four games for using an ineligible player. "They're not going to let anything get them off track with what they want to do."

With the loss, Collinsville slips to third in the district. Quarterback Zane McElroy threw for 129 yards and rushed for 111. Receiver T.J. Johnson caught eight passes for 119 yards and one touchdown and also had an interception on defense.

East Central 36, Collinsville 26

Collinsville	7	0	6	13	-	26
East Central	0	8	14	14	-	36

C: Crutchfield 11 run (Shambrook kick)

EC: Goree 7 run (Youngblood pass from Cherry)

C: T.J. Johnson 15 pass from McElroy (kick failed)

EC: Youngblood 71 pass from Taylor (Taylor pass from Cherry)

EC: Taylor 12 pass from Cherry (pass failed)

C: McElroy 1 run (Shambrook kick)

C: Crutchfield 3 run (pass failed)

EC: Taylor 17 pass from Cherry (Youngblood pass from Cherry)

EC: Goree 3 run (pass failed)

	Collinsville	EC
First downs	16	13
Rushes-Yards	50-230	24-141
Passing Yards	129	150
Comp-Att-Int	10-20-2	9-13-1
Punts-Avg	1-47	2-40
Fumbles-Lost	1-0	1-1
Penalties-Yards	0-0	6-54

Original Print Headline: E. Central tops Collinsville

Kelly Hines 918-581-8452
kelly.hines@tulsaworld.com

Associated Images:

East Central's Stanvon Taylor accounted for three touchdowns in the second half of Thursday's win over Collinsville. JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World

East Central's Deontre Youngblood (left) tackles Collinsville's T.J. Johnson during Thursday's game at East Central. JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World