It’s time to buckle up your seat belts football fans because you are in for one fast, bone-crushing ride Friday night when defending 3A state champ Jefferson Davis County visits Walter Payton Field at Gardner Stadium.
I wholeheartedly believed Columbia (6-1, 2-0) would be a much better football team prior to the season, but in no way did I expect the Wildcats to be challenging for the top spot in the state in 3A. That’s exactly where they stand, though, and we’re about to find out just how good they are.
The Jaguars (6-2, 2-0) may have two losses on their resume, but those two losses were by a combined 12 points to a pair of much bigger schools that together have an 11-2 record. Jeff Davis also has wins over 6A Harrison Central (6-1) and 5A Natchez (5-2), to go along with hard-fought district victories over Tylertown and West Marion. Needless to say the Jaguars are very good.
The matchup
Both teams play a physical brand of football with a run-first approach accompanied by a strong defense. The Wildcats have rushed for 2,411 in seven games, which is an astounding 344.4 yards per game. Meanwhile, Jeff Davis is just shy of 2,000 yards on the ground in eight games but has played a more difficult schedule than Columbia.
For all of the buzz this matchup is receiving and the implications it carries, what is going to decide this game are the three basic principles every head coach talks about incessantly: run the football, stop the run and win the turnover battle. It’s going to come down to which team wins the battle in the trenches and doesn’t turn the ball over in key situations.
Columbia wins if…
Having seen both teams play in critical games, I believe Columbia has the edge in the trenches, but it’s a slight one. The reason I give the edge to the Wildcats is their depth. Jeff Davis’ starters can match Columbia man for man, but they rarely subbed their defensive line against West Marion and were visibly winded toward the end of the game.
Columbia, meanwhile, is able to rotate their front constantly without suffering a drop off, which allows the linemen to stay fresh for four quarters. This game is likely going to be close, but the Columbia ground game and its ability to stop the run should reign supreme in the second half as long as the score remains close.
Also, Columbia has more “loose” playmakers — players who are able to make special things happen with the ball in their hands when they break loose in the open field. From Kentrel Bullock and Omarie Johnson to Ralpheal Luter and De’Torres Lewis, the Wildcats have multiple athletes who can score from anywhere on the field.
Jeff Davis wins if…
Although I believe Columbia has a deeper and slightly more talented roster, the Jaguars have far more experience playing in big games and have a confidence and swagger about them that can’t be taught. West Marion outplayed them for much of the game Friday night, but it was evident the Jaguars never once thought they were going to lose. It may sound simplistic or even trivial, but it makes a difference.
If Jeff Davis is able to force a couple of turnovers and go up by more than one touchdown at any point in the game, I’m not sure Columbia will be able to mount a comeback. Reason being is that Columbia has not proven it can make plays in the passing game when it needs to.
The Wildcats have only been in one game so far this season — at Taylorsville — when they needed to throw the ball to come back and were unable to do so. Couple that with the talent Jeff Davis has in the secondary, which was able to consistently disrupt West Marion’s vaunted passing attack, and it doesn’t look promising for Columbia. That’s not to say it can’t be done, but we just haven’t seen it yet.
The prediction
I’m calling for an upset and a changing of the guard of the power structure in Region 8-3A. This Columbia team is special and has the ingredients necessary to knock off Jeff Davis. Bullock is going to provide the hard running inside, but Johnson will be the one who breaks loose for a couple of long touchdowns to give Columbia a comfortable lead in the third quarter. Jeff Davis will have to try to throw to come back, but Jamison Kelly or Lewis is going to come up with a big interception.
Columbia-27 Jeff Davis-22
Pictured Above: Columbia's De'Torres Lewis makes a move in the open field against Tylertown. | Photo by Mark Rogers
