Gwinnett Daily Post

Collins Hill's Daniel Fish

Collins Hill Eagles (7-AAAAAA)

Coach: Kevin Reach

Record: 5-3 (4-2)

Last week: Lost 38-24 to North Gwinnett

Duluth Wildcats (7-AAAAAA)

Coach: Corey Jarvis

Record: 3-5 (2-4)

Last week: Beat Habersham Central 56-14

Admittedly, Collins Hill put a lot of focus on last week’s game with North Gwinnett, but they didn’t make it their season.

“Our kids, they realize what’s a stake here,” Eagles head coach Kevin Reach said. “They know that we kind of control our own destiny. If we win this one we are in (the playoffs) and that is what we are concentrating on.”

Even in the loss, the Eagles found some positives in their defense. Inside linebacker Joseph Park had nearly 20 tackles and Daniel Fish wasn’t far behind against the spread attack of North Gwinnett.

And that’s a similar offense they’ll face Friday at Duluth — with the special threat of Myles Campbell.

“We just have to make sure we have to corral around him,” Reach said of containing Campbell. “He’s fast, he’s quick and he’s their go-to guy.”

Duluth finds as many ways as it can to get the ball to Campbell, but with sophomore quarterback Thaddeus Bell getting him the ball has been a bit of a struggle. The fearless quarterback still makes some sophomore mistakes, but he makes up for it with a strong arm, said head coach Corey Jarvis.

And Bell’s growth, under the tutelage of injured quarterback Will Delorenzo, mirrors the struggles of Duluth this season. They’ll follow and offensive explosion with struggles moving the ball at all.

“We told our kids we have to get off this roller coaster,” Jarvis said. “We have to be more consistent on offense. On defense, we talk about being disciplined.

“We’ve been like that all year.”

Last meeting: Collins Hill won 35-13 last year

Directions to Duluth High School: From I-85, take Ga. Highway 120 west to Buford Highway and turn right. Take a left at the next light onto Brock Road and school is on the left.