JOAN FORD STADIUM — Lex Luthor. The Joker. Dr. Doom. Archenemies all.

For Collinsville, add the Ragland Purple Devils to that list.

A year ago, the Purple Devils spoiled the Panthers bid for a perfect season. In Collinsville's last regular season game less than a month ago, the Purple Devils again bested the previously unbeaten Panthers, 12-7.

On Friday night No. 7 Collinsville had a chance at redemption when they traveled to No. 3 Ragland in the Class 1A quarterfinals. But in the end, they were foiled again, this time by a final score of 28-7.

In his preseason preview, Ragland Head Coach Brian Mintz had a good feeling about his hard-working team.

“I think it is going to be a blue collar team,” he said. “I have the expectation that they are going to do well.”

Mintz words rang true Friday night. There was nothing fancy here as Ragland, utilizing no more than four offensive formations, lined up went to work.

The scoreless first quarter was punch and counter-punch, with Ragland holding the advantage on time of possession and field position. Defense ruled the day, at least for a quarter and a half, before Ragland's talented receiving tandem of KiJana Lindsay and Jimmy Brock punched in for their shift.

Lindsay ripped off a 57-yard run on a reverse as he started around the left end then cut back across the field before being caught at the Collinsville 15-yard line. Three plays later Ragland quarterback Scotty Smith called his own number and went up the middle to give the Purple Devils a 6-0 lead at 4:11 of the second quarter. The extra point attempt failed.

The Panther offense was unable to sustain a drive and Collinsville was forced to punt.

Ragland struck quickly as Smith, an all-state pitcher on the baseball team, threw a strike to Jim Brock near midfield. The all-star receiver turned on the jets and outraced the Panther secondary into the end zone with 59.5 seconds remaining in the half.

Smith's run to the pylon picked up the two-point conversion, boosting the Purple Devil lead to 14-0.

The Panthers hurried down the field but were unable to put points on the board as the half came to an end. Ragland finished the half with 210 yards of offense to the Panthers' 97.

Collinsville opened the second half with the ball and began to chip away at the Purple Devil defense until sophomore Nick Smith picked off the Panters' Nathan Coker. Three plays later Coker returned the favor by intercepting Smith.

After a David Hernandez punt, Ragland came back with another big play by Lindsey.

Smith was pressured to roll out of the pocket to his left where he planted his foot and threw the ball back across the field. The ball passed over the heads of the Collinsville defenders, hung in the air, and came to rest in Lindsey's arms at the 2-yard line.

From there, Nick Daniels picked up his seventeenth touchdown of the year. Brock secured the two-point conversion on a reverse and Ragland led 22-0 with 5:45 left in the third.

Collinsville got on the scoreboard as the quarter expired when Coker sprinted 48 yards to the end zone. Hernandez's extra point made it 22-7. Coker would finish with 101 yards on 22 carries. He also recovered a fumble.

Ragland added a final score when Smith found Brock on a fly pattern from 47 yards out with 4:31 remaining. The try for two failed, making the final count 28-7.

Coker completed 14 of 25 passes for 107 yards. Colby Helms had two grabs for 46 yards. Coker also had an interception on defense, as did defensive tackle Shaq Dupree.

The Panthers fought to the end, reaching the Purple Devil 3-yard line. But, for the third time in the last two years, the Ragland Purple Devils thwarted the best-laid plans of the Collinsville Panthers.

The Panthers have nothing to be ashamed of. Along the way they racked up back-to-back, Back to back region titles, won their first playoff game since 2001 and reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 1999.

Collinsville ended its season at 11-2. Ragland (12-0) travels to face Marion County Friday with a berth in the state finals in Tuscaloosa on the line.