For the first time in more than a decade, Columbia Academy (1-1) beat Presbyterian Christian (0-2) Friday night 34-14 in Hattiesburg.
“Our kids were excited because it was the first time in, I think, 12 years that CA had beat PCS,” CA head coach Randy Butler said. “It was a good win for the school, the players, former players and all the patrons of CA.”
A pair of fumbles and a pair of punts kicked off the action until the PCS offense finally found some traction to put points on the board midway through the first quarter. The Bobcats found pay dirt on a 20-yard scamper and made the extra point to take an early 7-0 lead.
Both offenses were forced to punt twice again to end the first quarter, then the Cougars halted a PCS drive at the CA 25 and finally got their offense rolling. Junior quarterback Ras Pace connected with Holden Smith for a 38-yard touchdown and Robert Johnson for the 2-point conversion to give CA an 8-7 lead with nine minutes remaining in the first half.
The Cougars then recovered a fumble at the PCS 40 that set up another Pace-to-Smith touchdown, this time from 25 yards out. Riles Stuart ran in the 2-point attempt to put the Cougars up 16-7. Columbia Academy then recovered an onside kick that proceeded the third Pace-to-Smith touchdown in a 6-minute span of game action, making it 22-7 going into halftime.
“It was good to see Ras throwing the ball like that and good to see Holden step. We expect him to play that way from now on. He’s a big body and big target, so we’re going to try to utilize him,” Butler said.
The third quarter saw five punts, a Columbia Academy fumble recovery, a PCS turnover on downs and no points. However, the Bobcats put together an 80-yard drive that began with under a minute remaining in the third and ended with a 5-yard score on the ground to cut the Cougars’ lead to 22-14.
The Cougars offense then grinded out a 57-yard drive that chewed five minutes off the clock and was capped off by a 5-yard rushing touchdown by Pace. Columbia Academy failed to convert the 2-point attempt but gave itself a comfortable 14-point, 28-14 lead with four minutes to play in the game.
Columbia Academy’s defense then stiffened up once again and forced a turnover on downs that set up a 5-yard scamper for six by Stuart with under a minute to play to make it 34-14. Sophomore cornerback Trevor Courtney notched his first career interception on the Bobcats’ final drive to put the game on ice and give the Cougars their first victory of the season.
Butler said the Cougars were better in the kicking game and in the turnover battle but still made too many mistakes.
“We forced five turnovers. Any time you do that you’re going to have an excellent chance to win,” he said. “We didn’t play as good as we’re going to play, though. We’re still making too many mistakes, too many penalties. In a close game like Week 1 (against Silliman Institute) it’s going to cost you. We’ve been talking to them about making better decisions and not making unforced errors like illegal procedures and holding.”
The Marion County private school will remain on the road Friday night as the Cougars travel to Purvis (0-2) to take on the Tornadoes. Purvis lost to Oak Grove 49-7 to open the season and West Marion 46-14 in Week 2.
Purvis’ record, though, is something Butler said he wants his players to ignore.
“They’ve played two really good football teams. Oak Grove looks like they could play for the state championship in 6A, and West Marion is just so athletic and plays hard,” he said. “When you put their video on, they’re massive on the offensive line, and they’re a power team at 83 percent run in two games. They’re going to line up and try to big boy you a little bit then use play action to take a shot. Defensively, they’re well coached, run to the football and, again, they’re pretty big up front on the defensive line. It’s going to be a challenge all the way around.”
Kickoff is at 7.
Pictured Above: Columbia Academy junior quarterback Ras Pace throws to the outside against Presbyterian Christian in Hattiesburg Friday night. He threw for three scores and ran for another in the Cougars 34-14 victory. | Photo by Matt Bush
