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The Cahokia Comanche’s Varsity Football squad won their season opener Friday night by a score of 8-3. In an unexpectedly low scoring affair, the O’Fallon Panthers took the lead at the end of the first half on a 28 yard field goal by kicker Kurt Rosenbaum as time expired. The Comanche’s finally got on the board in the fourth quarter. Junior quarterback Patrick Ivy hit senior wide receiver Jimmie Hunt on an 11 yard strike to get their first score of the year and seal their first win with only 33 seconds remaining in the game.
The Cahokia – O’Fallon matchup was one of several games being closely watched by coaches and prep football fans in the area. Cahokia lost in the Class A semifinals to Metamora in 2008. This year Cahokia is ranked third in the Class 5A preseason poll and is thought by many to be one of the top teams in the area. I asked Coach Antwyne Golliday how the semifinal loss affected preparation for this years team. He responded, “A loss always helps you prepare because you find out what did and did not work for you. It made for a long year but that’s behind us now and we’re ready to roll. We’re not into all the preseason hype. Our philosophy is it’s not how you start it’s how you finish.” O’Fallon, while not ranked in the state poll, is also considered to be a top 10 team in the Metro East. Both teams have highly touted college prospects. Cahokia wide receiver Jimmie Hunt who has committed to the University of Missouri and O’Fallon tight end De’Ron Flood who has committed to Purdue.
Just prior to game time rain swept through Cahokia and left the playing field very wet. Although the rain subsided after the start of the contest the wet field conditions did affect the play of both teams. Each team had their own problems handling the ball from center-quarterback exchanges to fumbles by backs and receivers. Both teams had their moments in putting together lengthy drives only to have them ended by momentum killing penalties.
In the end the game was a positive for both teams. Cahokia got the win despite a lackluster performance showing they can win ugly. That is what good teams do. Coach Golliday said, “The team that makes the least amount of mistakes is going to prevail. I don’t know if we made fewer mistakes tonight but we take it one play at a time. As long as it was close we still had a chance no matter how we played earlier.” Although O’Fallon lost, they stayed close with a very talented and fast Cahokia squad. Cahokia plays the Alton Redbirds at Alton on Friday, September 4th at 7:00p.m. O’Fallon will face Mt Vernon at O’Fallon on Friday, September 4th at 7:00 p.m.
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