Gwinnett Daily Post

Collins Hill's Tyler Henderson

Collins Hill Eagles (7-AAAAAA)

Coach: Kevin Reach

Record: 4-2, 3-1 region

Last week: Lost to Norcross 35-23

Meadowcreek Mustangs (7-AAAAAA)

Coach: Deario Grimmage

Record: 0-6, 0-4 region

Last week: Lost to Habersham Central 31-12

At Collins Hill no one ever hung their head.

Certainly losing to Norcross on Friday stung the Eagles, but head coach Kevin Reach didn’t lament the loss, rather chose to build on it.

“We’ve had a great week of practice,” Reach said. “They are focused on the remaining four games. We know what is at stake, our whole goal is to finish second. We want to get a home playoff game.”

They get a chance to regroup this week against winless Meadowcreek before facing North Gwinnett, Duluth and Mill Creek to end the season.

“We stressed this week that you can’t give up the big plays,” Reach said. “You have to be prepped and prepared every single play.”

The big play hurt the Eagles against Norcross, with the Blue Devils returning a kick for a touchdown and ripping off touchdown runs of 80 and 61 yards. That’s 21 points in three huge plays. Lesson learned.

“Norcross is a good team,” Reach said. “We knew we were going to have to play well.”

And most of the time, they did. Quarterback Brent Sheehan threw for 288 yards and a pair of touchdowns and Tyler Henderson caught six passes for 112 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 39.

“(Henderson’s) doing a great job on punt returns and kickoff returns,” Reach said. “He’s really played well the last three weeks. Offensively, I’ve been very pleased.”

Save the big plays Norcross managed, Collins Hill found solid defense for much of the game, led by Daniel Fish’s 18 tackles and a fumble recovery.

“We need to play our best football the remaining four games,” Reach said.

Last meeting: Collins Hill won 51-0 last year

Directions to Meadowcreek High School: From I-85, go east on Beaver Ruin Road to Steve Reynolds Boulevard and turn right. School is on the right.