PREP FOOTBALL : Collins Puts on a Show as Loara Blanks Canyon

Herb Hill, Loara High School’s 27-year veteran coach, was searching for a superlative to describe his junior running back, Coy Collins.

Hill hesitated, perhaps bearing in mind the heart of his offense is, after all, an underclassman.

“He’s a good back,” Hill said. “If he’s great, the records will show that before he’s finished. But he’s certainly the spark of this team.”

Collins was more like a torch Thursday night, rushing for 154 yards and 2 touchdowns in Loara’s 26-0 victory over Canyon in front of 800 in Anaheim’s Glover Stadium.

The victory was the third straight for Loara in nonleague play, while Canyon suffered its 10th consecutive loss spanning the past 2 years. Loara has 2 shutouts and allowed 8 points in 3 games.

Loara’s defense has some comparing this year’s team to Hill’s 1986 club that led the county in defense with linebacker Brian Malivar and nose guard Danny Rovira. This year’s defense may not be as strong, but then Loara didn’t have an offensive weapon of Collins’ caliber two years ago, either.

“He’s really a good one,” said Bob Rau, Canyon coach. “But then we knew that before the game.”

Collins runs with a straight-up motion but once he enters traffic, he has a tendency to dip his shoulder and elude tacklers with a quick shift. He also has a terrific first step.

He warmed up with 89 yards rushing in the first quarter and had 2 touchdowns midway through the second quarter. The Saxons’ defense took over at this point, intercepting 3 passes and recovering 3 fumbles.

“Defense has been our strength from the first play of the first game,” Hill said. “The only touchdown we’ve given up was to Western in the fourth game and that was against our second-string defense.”

Three turnovers set up three touchdowns for Loara. First, Darren Van Zee’s fumble recovery at Canyon’s 36-yard line set up Collins’ second touchdown for a 14-0 lead. Then, Randy Halcomb’s fumble recovery at Canyon’s 42-yard line led to a 1-yard touchdown run by Loara quarterback Jeff Gordon and a 20-0 lead.

Finally, Rick Griego’s interception at Canyon’s 20-yard line gave the second stringers an opportunity to join in. This time, reserve quarterback Chris Hoffman’s 1-yard keeper pushed Loara in front, 26-0.

Afterward, Rau continued to keep a positive attitude under difficult circumstances, after watching another inconsistent performance by his team.

“We’ve still got a lot of work to do, but we’re going to get better,” Rau said. “The kids are working hard and things will turn around.”