The Columbus High School football team can take a deep breath.
“When a game like that is over? Deep breath for sure,” Columbus coach Tony Stanford said.
Columbus found a way Friday night and edged Tupelo 24-23 on Friday night to improve to 4-1 and 1-0 in Class 6A, Region 1.
After building a 12-point lead in the first half, Columbus slowly let the lead slip away before Tupelo (2-3, 0-1) pulled in front 23-18 with 6 minutes, 8 seconds left in the game.
“When you lose a lead late in the game, you think, ‘Man, we’re going to lose,’ but I’m proud of my team for coming back,” Stanford said. “This game has been a downfall for us for a few years.”
Columbus had lost to Tupelo the previous five seasons, but this year was different. Led by a never-day-die offense and a defense with enough left in the tank to make one last stand, the Falcons rallied.
Columbus’ Quan Latham sparked the Falcons’ final scoring drive with a kickoff return to the Tupelo 49-yard line.
“I was just glad to put my team in a good position,” Latham said
From there, running back Damian Baker carried the ball six times for 30 yards. But after Tupelo forced a fourth-and-8 from the 20, wide receiver Deontae Jones helped put the Falcons back on top when he rose above two defenders to catch a pass from quarterback Trace Lee in the corner of the end zone with 2:13 remaining.
“I had my mind on getting the ball and not letting my team down,” said Jones, who had four catches for 53 yards. “In the past, we would have laid down, but not tonight.”
The Falcons failed to convert the two-point try after the officials ruled a Columbus receiver didn’t get a foot inbounds after catching a pass.
Tupelo moved the ball near its 40 on the ensuing drive, but Latham intercepted a pass by quarterback Luke Hobson on fourth-and-8 with 1:16 left to seal the deal.
“When I made the pick, I just hoped the offense could hold. I didn’t see the time left,” Latham said.
The offense did its job and didn’t have to wait long because the Golden Wave only had one timeout. The clock expired after three plays, which allowed the Falcons to breathe easy.
“I think this game shows the character of this ballclub,” Stanford said.
Baker led the Falcons with 113 yards and two touchdowns. Lee threw two touchdowns and one interception. Cedric Jackson also helped the Falcons in multiple ways, chipping in 97 yards of offense and a touchdown reception in the second quarter.
Ashton Shumpert led Tupelo with 101 rushing yards and a touchdown. Hobson threw for 142 yards and a touchdown, and added 54 yards rushing and touchdown run.
After a scoreless first quarter, Columbus got on the scoreboard with a 4-yard touchdown run by Baker in the second quarter to take a 6-0 lead. Baker scored again in the quarter, but the Falcons couldn’t convert a two-point try and led 12-0. Tupelo responded on the following possession with a touchdown run by Hobson with 2:11 left in the half to make it 12-7.
However, after each team forced an interception. The Falcons took possession at their 48 yard line with around 45 seconds left. A pass by Lee to Jackson capped a four-play, 52-yard drive that gave Columbus an 18-7 halftime lead.
Tupelo came into the second half with renewed energy, and a 56-yard touchdown pass from Hobson to wide receiver Josh Hamilton in the third quarter provided a spark. A 33-yard field goal by Tupelo kicker Drew White cut the deficit to 18-17 entering the fourth quarter.
Tupelo then scored on a 10-yard run by Shumpert to take their first lead. The Falcons held on the two-point attempt, giving their offense a chance to take back the lead in the final minutes.
Three of the Falcons’ four scoring drives started in Tupelo territory. None of the drives was longer than 52 yards.
Tupelo coach David Bradberry was unavailable for comment after the game.
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