While it took longer than most expected, the Columbus High School football team finally passed the test.
When the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 6A playoffs begin Friday night, Columbus will be on the bracket. Horn Lake won nine games and Starkville won seven games. Neither of those squads will still be playing. That is how hard life has been in Class 6A this season.
Columbus knocked off Hernando 60-47 to win the third seed from its region and to earn a first-round game at Madison Central. The relief could be felt by almost everyone at Falcon Field Friday night.
Randal Montgomery led Columbus to eight wins in his second season. With almost the entire offensive lineup back, the expectations were high. Columbus began the season ranked in the Top 10 by the Clarion-Ledger Super 10.
Clinton, Brandon, Starkville and South Panola were the favorites in Class 6A. However, Columbus was frequently mentioned in that second breath of “outsiders with a chance.”
Now, the calendar runs deep into November and Columbus still has a chance.
“Everybody (in the playoffs) starts out 0-0,” Montgomery said. “There are 16 teams. Each of them has a chance. Making the playoffs is a big deal. A lot of teams aren’t this fortunate.”
Columbus won six of seven region games in 2015 and essentially had a playoff berth locked up with three weeks left in the season. This year was a far greater challenge.
“We have had to work hard for everything,” Columbus senior running back Kylin Hill. “Last season some things came easy. We were the new guys so to speak, so we kind of snuck on some people. This year not so much. Everything we have gotten, we have earned. It’s an excitement to be in the playoffs. It’s also a relief.”
In 2015, Columbus won by 20 or more points six times. This season, despite being a much better offensive team, the Falcons have done that twice.
This season, Columbus has beaten Southaven 49-33, Olive Branch 48-35 and Hernando 60-47.
After the victory over Southaven, Montgomery said it was too late in the season to change his team’s identity. Instead, the Falcons were just going to have to outscore the opposition for the rest of the season.
Columbus certainly has the weapons to do just that.
Senior quarterback C.J. Gholar has thrown for 1,711 yards with 13 touchdowns and only three interceptions. Junior Michael McCloud has become the team’s top passing target with 21 receptions for 652 yards and eight touchdowns.
On the ground, Hill has rushed for 1,488 yards and 20 touchdowns. He is closing in on 4,000 yards over the last three varsity seasons. Senior Kendre Conner, Gholar and junior Patrick Jackson have helped the Falcons to form a powerful rushing game. As the offensive line has grown and matured, the ground numbers have gotten better.
The Falcons are averaging 288.7 yards per game on the ground.
On defense, Columbus has issues. There is some Division I talent on that side of the ball. There is also good junior college talent on that side of the ball. However, the unit has struggled to play consistent football. A critical fourth down conversion allowed and a critical pass interference call here or there has hurt dearly.
“The playoffs will give us another chance,” Columbus junior defensive lineman Josh Gray said. “We have had stretches but we need to be more consistent. I think everybody is excited to be in the playoffs. It’s a new season and a chance to start over.”
Hill said last season’s playoff experience – albeit one game, a 56-42 home loss to Clinton – will help the team.
“For the seniors, making the playoffs last year was really big,” Hill said. “I think we will benefit from that experience. We know what we are doing now. We know that we can compete.”
Columbus has had a litany of heart-breaking defeats. Losses to West Point (17-13) and Noxubee County (24-23) were decided in the closing seconds. The Falcons had a lead in the final six minutes of each of those.
The other losses include a 43-27 shootout loss to undefeated and top-ranked Tupelo, as well as a head-scratching loss to Horn Lake. In that setback, Columbus held a 28-17 lead in the third quarter but lost 44-35. Columbus also fell to South Panola 6-0, spoiling what was easily the team’s best defensive effort of the season.
However, none of that matters now. Being ranked in the preseason means nothing. Losing to Noxubee County in the closing seconds means nothing. More than 600 yards in wins over DeSoto Central and Hernando also means nothing now.
Madison Central is all that matters. Columbus will have a chance to line up and play a 48-minute game.
The Falcons will be thrilled to have that chance.
Scott Walters is a sports writer for The Dispatch. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @dispatchscott.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.