By Jack Walker

Staff Writer

Some fans may judge the strength of a football opponent by the number of A's that follow the school's name.

That would be a big mistake when looking at the Class 1-A Collinsville Pirate program.

Coach Danny David has taken this team to the playoffs every year for the past four seasons, reaching the quarterfinals last year. Most of the players on that team return for the 2010 season and this arguably will be one of the three toughest games on the Bulldogs schedule.

Quarterback Cory Ragsdale, a 6-4,200 pound playmaker who ran for over 700 yards and passed for 1390 during the 2009 season, leads the Pirates. The Pirates also had a 600-yard rusher who returns, Chris Carney.

This team will give Howe a good test coming out of the gate. They are a solid, experienced team that has been in a program that has had very little coaching turnover for the past four year's.

Howe Projected Offensive Starters.

LT # 51 Michael Karry

LG #66 Kasy Havens

C #50 Cody Mercer

RG#65 Josh Sanford

RT#70 Logan Price

QB# 7 Chase Fountaine

RB#20 Towner Bailey

FB#24 Casey Davis

Rec#5 Tim Butler

Rec#3 Alex Torres

TE#8 Zack Hill