Collinsville didn't set out to unseat both 2014 state finals teams in back-to-back playoffs games, but that's what came of the 92nd installment of the Highway 20 Bowl on Friday night.
For the first time in their 114-year history, the No. 8 Collinsville Cardinals advanced to the 5A state championship with a 23-3 victory against No. 2 Skiatook.
"We're the Chicago Cubs of high school football, except, we've made it here," Collinsville defensive back Brett Erickson said.
After giving up a field goal on the opening drive, Collinsville's offense stumbled out onto the field in Owasso Stadium for five motionless drives ending with an interception, a punt, a blocked field goal and two turnovers on downs.
"It was starting to remind me of Week Three," Collinsville coach Kevin Jones said. "Such an emotional game, these two teams have been playing each other since seventh grade at least, they've been battling for a long time."
The Cardinals responded with 23 unanswered second-half points, starting with a five-play, 58-yard drive to start the third quarter.
Seth Boomer found a wide-open Sam West for 34 yards and a score that gave the Cardinals the lead with 9:17 left in the third and loosened the frozen Collinsville sideline.
"We wanted to keep him from throwing and keep everything beneath but he beat us a few times, those are the ones you want back," Skiatook coach Vance Miller said.
Boomer finished 10-for-18 with 236 passing yards, a touchdown and an interception. He also intercepted a ball on defense with 8:24 left in the game, setting up the final scoring drive that sealed his rival's fate.
His was the story of a second half comeback, set up only by the dangerous trio of Shae Garner, Stephen Upton and Mike Watson.
Together, they carried the Bulldogs into the game via the first 12-0 season since 1974. Against Collinsville (8-4 overall), they picked up seven first downs in the first 20 minutes and gave Miller the coveted lead on a blustery, 34-degree night that favored the run.
"We did think the conditions gave us an advantage there, but our running back gets hurt early and they had a stout defense that did a good job," Miller said.
Watson suffered an apparent ankle injury and didn't get a carry in the second half. The group was held to below average production on the night, combining for 171 yards on 44 carries and denied a trip to the end zone
Erickson was the Cardinal in the clutch for the second straight week, picking up two interceptions, one in the first quarter and another in the fourth, to lift his team in front of a raucous crowd in Owasso Stadium.
"He's such an athlete," Jones said. "He's a gamer, always coming up big when you need him to."
Linebacker Levi Draper had the third takeaway, a fumble recovery in the second half that set up Collinsville's second score. He will lead a linebacker group into the title game against the winner of Monday's match between No. 4 Altus and Bishop McGuinness.
"It's a crazy feeling, is doesn't even seem real yet," Draper said. "We're going to take this one in and go out, prepare for state. This is great."