Photo by Joshua Campbell, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Columbia seniors Clydarrien Peters and Tra Lewis share a hug after defeating Poplarville for the South State Championship.
Although Poplarville executed its game plan to perfection, limiting the Columbia offense to just 28 plays while controlling the ball for about two-thirds of the game, the Wildcats outlasted the Hornets 20-14 Friday night with a 98-yard, game-winning drive sending them to the Class 4A State Championship to face Kosciusko.
