Trojans’ quarterback carousel finds clarity

Oak Ridge opens playoffs at Burbank tonight

EL DORADO HILLS — Sophomore Jacob Sipes' emergence last week in a break-out varsity performance against Folsom gave Oak Ridge coaches reason to smile but cost Dylan Collie a job — and that was a good thing.

Back at his customary role as a wide receiver after a four-game stint at quarterback after junior starter Jason Samuels broke his collarbone in week No. 5, Collie caught both of Sipes' touchdown passes and overall, had nine catches on the evening in the Trojans' near upset.

"I'm a lot more comfortable outside than over center," Collie said. "There's nothing more thrilling than catching a touchdown pass. To get across the goal line twice was special — I definitely missed it."

The team that crosses the goal line most often will win Friday's Sac-Joaquin Section Division I first-round Oak Ridge-Burbank game. The Trojans will face an athletic, talented team that used a combination of speed and power all the way to a 9-1 record. Burbank averages an astounding 490 yards a game on the ground which makes Troy's priority obvious — stop the run.

"What they do offensively (triple option) is unlike anything we've seen and has forced us to adjust defensively but I feel we have a good game plan in place and we'll be ready," Oak Ridge coach Eric Cavaliere said.

"The keys are stopping the run, matching and exceeding their physicality and avoiding mistakes. We've had a great week of practice and Jacob (Sipes) continues to improve. He's had one good game which was impressive and if we get another, we'll be in good shape."

Cavaliere couldn't have possibly foreseen the dilemma the quarterback position would be when the season started. Samuels and senior Frank Trifeletti vied for the starting job early but Trifeletti tore his ACL before the season started. Samuels settled in and Oak Ridge was playing well until the injury sidelined him midway through a game at Fairfield.

Collie took over and got the nod for two more games before he went down in the Jesuit game with a separated AC joint in his shoulder. Sean O'Donnell took over and finished that game. Sipes, who was on the roster early before he was sent down to the junior varsity team, practiced with the team before the Folsom game and played with great maturity against the Bulldogs, earning the start tonight at Burbank.

"Why the switch wasn't made earlier I'm not sure, but it should have been because the quarterback before him — me — was awful," Collie said, poking some fun at himself.

While Collie wasn't horrible, he wasn't Samuels. Before Samuels went down, Oak Ridge was 3-1, averaging 35 points a game and in the middle of a fourth win against Fairfield. Collie went 2-2 as a starter with the Trojans managing just 40 points in that stretch.

Ironically, it was Collie that quietly alerted the team trainer in the locker room at halftime in Fairfield after Samuels confided that he couldn't make several throws to an open Collie. Once the trainer determined Samuels couldn't go back out, Collie took over.

Collie was the freshman team's quarterback two years ago. He trained at the position with the varsity team at the end of each practice but didn't expect anything to come from it. His first game — a 28-23 loss to Sheldon — was disastrous as he fumbled five times and threw two interceptions in a turnover-plagued setback.

"I was excited going forward to be the quarterback and ready to have fun but I wasn't sure how I'd be. I knew I could make plays with my feet (running) but I wasn't sure about throwing (passes)," Collie said. "But I thought I'd put 110 percent into it, challenge myself and try to make something out of nothing."

He rebounded, atoning for the Sheldon debacle with his best performance at Ponderosa a week later.

"I was able to step back and reevaluate after Sheldon and got my mind right. It was my best game statistically and decision-wise," Collie said.

Collie admitted to initially being concerned about moving from his beloved receiver spot where he will play next season for Brigham Young University but the Cougar coaches, who know Dylan through his brothers Zac and Austin, gave their OK. Still, Dylan had worked hard to have a great season in his final year as a Trojan wideout and now had to change positions.

"I had a selfish approach at first because it was my senior year with all the awards and everything. But my mindset quickly shifted. It wasn't about me. It was about the team. I thought 'how can I make this (switch to quarterback) work?' It then wasn't about being the best receiver in the area but a top athlete that could overcome adversity."

Normally a college-bound athlete wants to avoid injury but there was Collie at Jesuit lowering his shoulder on a Marauder linebacker. The collision was heard all the way to Arden Mall. Though Collie wanted to soldier on, Cavaliere and his staff were forced to explore other options.

When Collie heads to the line of scrimmage tonight against Burbank, he'll glance down at Sipes taking the center snaps and delivering the ball on Collie's routes.While his time at quarterback was short-lived, he won't soon forget it and has a new-found respect for Samuels, Sipes and future quarterback teammates.

"My perspective has really changed — it's the toughest thing I've ever done on the field. I understand why they (quarterbacks) get the big bucks and respect. It definitely took a toll on me."