Collado a force on both sides of ball
SANDPOINT — It’s a vexing question, and one that was asked of offensive line coach Crosby Tajan, head coach Satini Puailoa and senior two-way starter Carlos Collado: Which side of the ball does Collado play best on?
The answers tell the tale of the 6-foot-4, 240-pound offensive tackle and defensive end, positions he’s started at for Sandpoint since his sophomore season.
Tajan said defense, lauding Collado’s slippery ability to shed blockers and disrupt an offense. Puailoa deliberated, before calling him a complete package and promptly raving about his offensive line play at both guard and tackle this season.
With ostensibly a split consensus among his two coaches, Collado cast the final vote himself.
“I’m equal on both sides of the ball,” answered Collado, a stalwart on both sides of the trenches for the past three years. “I’ve always played on both sides.”
There have been some special moments for Collado in the past two seasons, littered with all-league selections, pancake blocks and sacks. In last year’s 42-27 playoff loss to Blackfoot, he scooped up a fumble and showed his deceptive speed with a 51-yard touchdown that cut the lead to 28-27.
This year he was one of four captains called out to celebrate a memorable halftime ceremony where former Sandpoint lineman and Green Bay Packers legend Jerry Kramer presented the high school with a gold football.
Great moments, to be sure, but both run a distant second to last year, when Collado wore the coveted No. 64 Bulldog jersey for the last time. At halftime of the game, Collado removed the jersey, given annually to the Bulldogs’ best lineman, and presented it to Jeannie and Bob Lyon, whose son David Lyon had worn the jersey years before. Lyon, a decorated soldier, died in late 2013 while on a tour of duty in Afghanistan. The jersey will never be worn again in Sandpoint.
“It was an honor to look those parents in the eye and give them that jersey,” recalled Collado of the emotional and special night. “It gave me a sense of that’s what we’re here to do.”
Collado was born in New York City, lived much of his youth in Ohio, before moving to Sandpoint as a freshman. He’s participated in football, basketball and thrown the shot and discus in track every year since, but concedes football is easily his favorite sport.
Just this year, he’s played both guard and tackle on the offensive line, and end and tackle on the defensive line, making his presence known wherever he lines up. Tajan, his offensive line coach, calls him a tenacious player and raves about his effort.
“He’s a real hustle guy, a snap-to-whistle player. You just see this big guy running all over the place,” lauded Tajan. “He’s a great offensive lineman. He gets his body in the way all the time. It’s hard for guys to separate from him.”
Like all of his teammates, Collado is hoping for a special end to this season. Four years of hard work has already been done, now comes down to the tried and true clichés of executing and taking care of business on the field.
“We’ve got to finish. We’ve worked so hard, this is what we’ve been dreaming about,” said Collado of the key to making a run at state. “Determination and grit. Keep it going, never give up.”
Collado wants to keep playing at the next level, and has the frame and athleticism that college coaches covet. Should the Bulldogs make a deep playoff run, he’ll get a chance to show his chops and garner some more college interest.
“He’s the complete package. He works at everything he does. We condition, he’s the first guy. A true two-way player,” praised Puailoa of his three-year starter. “As a sophomore, by the end he was our best lineman, and he’s gotten better every year. He plays three sports and excels at all three. He’s been a consummate teammate, a pleasure to have around.”