It took longer than head coach Chip Bilderback and the Wildcats would have liked, but Columbia (10-2) battled through a challenging second half on a torn-up field and clawed its way to a 28-20 road victory over Crystal Springs in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs.
The Wildcats jumped out to a 22-6 lead at halftime, but a special teams blunder tied to the field conditions turned the tide and allowed the Tigers to put 14 points on the board in the third quarter. That made it a 22-20 contest heading into the final frame.
“We knew the game was going to get sloppy as the game wore on. That’s why we wanted to take the ball first was because we didn’t want to get it to start the second half when the field was already sloppy,” Bilderback said. “We knew the second half would be tough.”
But Columbia’s defense rose to the occasion with three fourth-quarter interceptions, and the offense got an explosive touchdown run to seal the deal.
“We’ve done that all year. When things get tough, we fight through,” Bilderback said. “That’s why we’ve won 10 games now. I can’t say enough about this senior group and this junior group. I’m just excited we get to practice and play another week.”
With the third round and the South State qualifying game on the docket, the Wildcats are preparing for a familiar opponent to come to town: reigning 3A champ Jeff Davis (9-4), whom Columbia beat at home 14-12 Oct. 12. The Jaguars are coming off back-to-back blowout wins — 61-22 over Forest and 53-14 over Velma Jackson — and are riding a three-game win streak after consecutive losses to Columbia and Seminary.
The Wildcats started their second-round matchup with Crystal Springs with a bang. Tough running by Kentrel Bullock and Omarie Johnson landed Columbia in the red zone on the opening drive, and Bullock capped it off with an easy 3-yard score to make it 7-0 three minutes into the game.
Following two three-and-outs by Crystal Springs, Bullock accelerated through a big hole created by left tackle Jordan Aaron and left guard Joey Croom and was pushed out at the Tigers 2 after 33 yards. On the next play, Bullock powered into the end zone to make it 14-0 with 1:03 remaining in the opening quarter.
Crystal Springs quarterback Ta’Darious Barnes answered for the Tigers, though, rumbling for 38 yards and setting up a Darius Wheeler 3-yard touchdown. Columbia blocked the extra point, though, and took a 14-6 lead into the second quarter.
Bullock then produced some more fireworks. Facing a 3rd-and-1, he picked up the first with ease, made a great move to elude two defenders at once on the second level and turned on the burners for a 64-yard touchdown. Crystal Springs jumped offsides twice on the PAT, so Bilderback opted to go for the 2-point conversion, which Bullock added with ease to make it 22-6.
Columbia’s final drive of the half was marred by penalties, but the defense rose to the occasion as Jaheim Oatis made a big tackle for loss on third down to send the game to intermission.
That’s when things got interesting. Crystal Springs had a great drive going to open the second half until De’Torres Lewis intercepted Barnes near the end zone to end the threat. Columbia was forced to punt after gaining just four yards, though, and gave the Tigers great field position.
But then the Columbia defense came up with a big play again as Jamison Kelly made a leaping interception inside the Wildcats 10. However, the Wildcats were forced to punt after another three-and-out and finally allowed Crystal Springs to capitalize on the plus field position. Columbia punter Ryan Luter was forced to eat the snap and was brought down at the Columbia 7. Two plays later Tigers running back Johnnie Daniels scampered into the end zone, and Crystal Springs converted the 2-point try to make it 22-14 with 3:59 left in the third quarter.
The Wildcats offense was stuffed for the fourth consecutive drive and had to punt it back to the Tigers, which had all the momentum. Barnes then broke off a 55-yard run, shrugging off Wildcats along the way, and Daniels scored from 12 yards out on a counter to cut it to 22-20 with nine seconds remaining until the fourth quarter.
Columbia finally found some traction offensively on the ensuing drive and reached the Crystal Springs 12 after converting two fourth downs, but quarterback Ralpheal Luter dropped a snap that lost six yards and the Wildcats couldn’t pick up a 4th-and-13.
However, Columbia was finally able to win the battle of field position. After starting at its own 19, Crystal Springs was pushed all the way back to its own 1-inch line and had to punt it back to the Wildcats.
Johnson then made a great play to create a little breathing room for Columbia. He took a sweep around the edge and put together a nifty yet powerful run, breaking two tackles on the sideline while staying in bounds for a 22-yard touchdown. Harrison Foxworth, who made his first two kicks, missed the PAT that would have made it a two-possession game, but the Wildcats lead was up to 28-20 with four minutes to go.
On the first play of the Tigers ensuing drive, Columbia corner Dylan Henry hauled in an interception on a deep ball that could have sealed the deal. But the Wildcats failed to gain even one yard and had to punt it right back.
Facing a 4th-and-6 in its own territory and 1:17 on the clock, Crystal Springs needed a big conversion to keep its hopes alive. Barnes launched a deep pass over the middle that went through the hands of Kelly and straight into Tigers receiver Malik Jones’ for a gain of 37. While Kelly could have allowed the blunder to derail him, he made up for it on the next play and grabbed his second interception of the contest to win it for the Wildcats.
“We knew this game was going to be (a grind),” Bilderback said following the game. “With the field conditions and what we try to do on offense, we knew it would be. Something we talked to our kids about all week was focus on what we can control and control the controllables. We had no control over the officiating, no control over the field conditions — all we had control over was our effort and our attitude. We fought through some tough situations in the second half and made stop after stop.”
Pictured Above: Columbia cornerback Dylan Henry (18) celebrates his fourth-quarter interception with, from left, Sadarion Magee, Jordan Aaron and Javen Moses. The Wildcats intercepted Crystal Springs four times. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
