Dear Editor,
On behalf of the Columbia Board of Trustees and the Columbia School District, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Columbia community for your faithful support of our Columbia High School Football Team, the 2025 MHSAA 4A State Champions!
Each week, you showed up to cheer on the Wildcats, and your presence and encouragement made a meaningful difference. From the first game of the season to the State Championship at Davis Wade Stadium, your support has been truly inspiring.
Congratulations to Head Coach Chip Bilderback and his staff for their remarkable coaching job. While achieving perfection is no small feat, the story behind this season makes it truly special.
The journey began on December 2, 2023. Columbia experienced its first loss of the season, falling 19-6 in the State Championship game, a heartbreaking moment for everyone in attendance. Just a few months later, Coach Bilderback made the difficult decision to leave the program to be closer to family, leaving the team with a new head coach just months before the start of the 2024 season. Then, on Christmas Eve, tragedy struck when the team lost their teammate, Luke Davis, in a tragic automobile accident. Yet, a few months later, another twist occurred when Coach Bilderback returned to lead the Wildcats with an entirely new coaching staff.
Against all odds, this team came together, persevered through adversity, and delivered a season for the ages. The team finished the season with a record of 15-0, becoming the only undefeated high school football team in the State of Mississippi. Even more impressively, these seniors graduate with just five total losses since seventh grade, showcasing their commitment, character, and heart. In a poetic finish, senior Tyson Brown, who lost his father earlier in the season, intercepted the final pass to secure the victory.
This team represents more than just athletic excellence; they embody resilience, unity, and the Motto of the Columbia School District: BELIEVE-ACHIEVE-SUCCEED. The 2025 Wildcats have demonstrated to us all what it means to overcome adversity and rise to greatness. Congratulations to the players and coaches for embodying the true spirit of a champion. And to our Columbia community, thank you for believing in, supporting, and celebrating these young men every step of the way.
Go Wildcats!
-Dr. Jason Harris
