Jeremy Kelton's 2 TDs help Collins beat Orr. 'He's our fearless leader.'

It has been an eventful few weeks for the Collins football program. Academic ineligibility forced the team, which has 21 players, to forfeit a winnable game against UIC Prep in Week 6 — a loss that may have cost the Warriors a spot in the state playoffs. White West conference leader Marshall then shut out Collins last week.

And this week, just 36 hours before a game against Orr on Thursday, coach Corey Hill was fired and replaced by assistant coach Marco Dodd.

“We had some things going on where I needed to step in,” Dodd said. “[Collins principal Lekenya Sanders-Sharpe] came calling, and I answered the call. The team stuck together. They came out today, played their hearts out, and we had the fans behind us. We got the job done.”

The Warriors trailed by a touchdown in the first quarter but dominated from then on to beat Orr 24-6 at Rockne Stadium.

“It feels amazing to get my first win as a head coach,” Dodd said.

Senior Jeremy Kelton scored on a seven-yard run to tie the game early in the second quarter. Just before halftime, he caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from X’avier Furgurson to put Collins (4-4, 2-3) ahead 18-6.

“All the stuff with the coaching situation was hard,” Kelton said. “I’m gonna miss [Hill]. But [Dodd] and I came together and talked. I had to apologize because I made some mistakes. But we worked through it together.”

Kelton finished with nine carries for 86 yards and two catches for 42 yards.

“It’s been an up-and-down season for Kelton,” Dodd said. “But the last couple of games, he’s stepped it up. He’s our fearless leader. He practices and plays hard. The guys follow behind him. He’s a natural-born leader.”

Collins sophomore Eric Rhone had a big third quarter with an eight-yard touchdown run and an interception, his second of the season. Sophomore Sherrod Murray grabbed an interception in the second quarter.

“Rhone is the future,” Dodd said. “I wanted to get him the ball. That kid has a lot of talent. We are going to make sure he’s in a position to succeed.”

Dodd, a math teacher at Collins, is the team’s third head coach in three years.

“It will be me from here on out and to start next year,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity.”

Orr sophomore quarterback Kurell Smith opened the scoring with a five-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and finished 5-for-16 for 26 yards with two interceptions for the Spartans (3-5, 2-3).