After losing its first two home games in heart-breaking fashion, the Columbus High School football team went in the other direction Friday night.
A slow start made the mountain too high to climb as Columbus dropped a 43-27 decision to No. 6 Tupelo in a Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 6A, Region 1 contest played before another capacity crowd at Falcon Field.
Columbus (3-3, 1-1 region) lost its first two home games to West Point and Noxubee County by a combined five points. This contest, however, was never in any real doubt.
Tupelo (6-0, 2-0) built a 15-0 lead early and proved that last season’s atypical break-even record was a one-year fluke.
“We just didn’t start fast enough,” Columbus senior running back Kylin Hill said. “When you play a Top 10 team, you have to be ready to go. You have to come on to the field ready to get down to business. For whatever reason, we have a had hard time getting started in games. We are ready and everybody’s excited. It doesn’t translate to getting off to good starts on offense.”
“Tonight, we looked up and we were too far behind.”
Columbus did pull within nine points at 36-27 with 7 minutes, 59 seconds left in regulation. The Falcons then failed on a two-point conversion try, meaning two more scores would still be needed.
After getting the much-needed stop to have one more chance, the Tupelo punt accidentally bounced off the leg of Derrick Beckom who was back to block for Hill on the potential return.
Tupelo regained possession and tacked on the put-away score minutes later.
“It simply was not our night,” Columbus coach Randal Montgomery said. “You can look at two plays in the game. We get the stop and force the punt and it bounces off Derrick like that. Certainly not intentional, just a bad break.
“In the first half, the (illegal block) penalty wiping out Kylin’s big run was a huge blow. We had fought all night to get any type of momentum. It should have been a one-score game at the half. If that happens, we have a chance.”
With his team down 22-7, Hill had broken an apparent 77-yard run down inside the Tupelo 10-yard line. The block did not impact the run but it did reduce the gain to 17 yards.
Columbus had to punt on this possession. Tupelo went to work and moved 74 yards on five plays to take a commanding 29-7 lead at halftime.
“We needed to be in a better position at halftime,” Columbus senior quarterback C.J. Gholar said. “Not scoring when we had our chances in the first half really hurt us. It put us in trouble early. We were already playing a great team.”
In the second half, the Falcons turned to Hill. The Mississippi State commitment again delivered. His 255 all-purpose yards including 125 rushing, 90 receiving and 40 return. For a second straight game, he found the end zone four times.
After gaining 791 yards in last week’s region win at DeSoto Central, Columbus had another strong worksheet with 244 rushing yards and 174 passing for 418 total.
On this night, Tupelo was simply better.
Sophomore quarterback Stephon McGlaun threw for 206 yards and three touchdowns in his second career start. Behind the hard running of Labryant Siddell and Jacquerrious Williams, the Golden Wave pounded out 231 yards on the ground.
It was the type of balance so sorely missing from Tupelo a season ago. It is part of the reason why Columbus took a 33-9 road win last season.
“We have to work on playing for four quarters,” Hill said. “We can’t take anything for granted on offense. We just have to put up points. We have to take advantage of every chance we get. We did that (against DeSoto Central). We just have to keep doing that.”
Montgomery admitted his team did not play its best game. He also came away with a new-found respect for Tupelo.
“They are a really good football team,” Montgomery said. “Even more impressed now that I have seen them in person. We just have to focus on winning the final five (region) games. Tupelo is the No. 1 team in this region. We just have to take care of things on our end the rest of the way.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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