The Columbia Wildcats (9-0, 4-0) made sure there would be no repeat of last season Oct. 24 on their home field as they cruised 31-0 over Seminary and ultimately sealed the Region 8-3A title.
Last year the Wildcats went into the final week of the regular season undefeated in district play and lost to Seminary, who was also undefeated, and dropped down to the No. 2 seed in the region. This time around, though, they jumped on the Bulldogs early and got a big boost Friday night from Jeff Davis County. The Jaguars beat Magee 18-16 to make both squads 2-2 in district play. Had Magee beat Jeff Davis and then Columbia this Friday, there likely would have been a three-way tie atop the district between Columbia, Magee and West Marion, which would have been decided by point differential.
But now Columbia, ranked No. 1 in the state in 3A, travels to Magee (8-2, 2-2) Friday with its first district title since 2013 already in hand. While only an unblemished record and pride is at stake in the matchup, head coach Chip Bilderback said he knows Magee’s high-flying offense that averages 35.7 points per game will be a handful for the Wildcats.
“Chandler Pittman is a great quarterback. We’re going to have to continue to control the line of scrimmage. Our secondary is going to have to hold up but also with that it goes hand and hand with your pass rush. We have a lot to clean up facing a spread team,” he said. “I kind of like how we’ve grown every week when we’ve defended a spread team. It’s going to be a fun challenge and a great atmosphere.”
Pittman has thrown for 2,024 yards and 21 touchdowns and has run for 815 yards and 15 touchdowns. Magee’s only two losses were by a combined seven points to West Marion and Jeff Davis.
The Wildcats began their win over Seminary with a bang with senior strong safety Teshonne Franklin picking off a Seminary pass on the first play from scrimmage. Four plays later, Kentrel Bullock was in the end zone on a 17-yard run on a toss sweep. Antoine Franklin drilled the extra point to make it 7-0 with 10:20 still to play in the first quarter.
Bullock had a 76-yard touchdown called back on Columbia’s next drive because of a hold, but his backfield mate made up for it late in the second quarter. Omarie Johnson broke off a 56-yard run to the Seminary 1 after trucking a defender and breaking into the open field before Bullock capped off the drive with a 2-yard score to give Columbia a 13-0 lead going into halftime.
Columbia wasted no time adding to the lead on the opening drive of the second half as Bullock added touchdown No. 3 on a 24-yard run after picking up key downfield blocks by Tryson Johnson and Darreious Bullock. On the Wildcats’ next drive, it was Johnson who got into the end zone on a 3-yard carry up the gut to make it 25-0.
Johnathan Wiltz punctuated the scoring with a 13-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, and Jamison Kelly intercepted a halfback pass late to put the cherry on top.
“I was proud of our whole group,” Bilderback said. “When you play on a short week in the sense that we weren’t prepared to play on a Thursday and Monday we got rained out, so we didn’t look as crisp. I thought we executed but except the penalties, so there’s a lot of little things to clean up.”
Bilderback said he’s really proud to be 9-0 with the schedule the Wildcats have played, especially the seniors.
“What more can you say about this senior group? The last two years they’ve won 19 games, and they had a tough year two years ago. They’re a special group. Some underclassmen stepped up tonight and filled in some spots, but tonight was about our seniors and what a way to end it going undefeated at home in the regular season,” he said following the win. “That says a lot about this group.”
Seminary struggled to move the ball all night as Jaheim Oatis, Jeremiah Haynes and Greg Fortenberry consistently were in the Bulldogs’ backfield. Seminary was far from the first Wing-T team Columbia has played this year, and Bilderback said the Wildcats have gotten better at defending the old-school offense each time.
“Our defensive front controlled the line scrimmage, and I think our secondary is getting better every single week,” he said. “Our linebackers, AJ Walker just does what he does, reads his keys and gets after it. Teshonne started it off with an interception, and Jamison got an interception, too, so I’m excited to be getting better in the secondary. Any time you get a shutout you’re excited about that.”
Pictured Above: Columbia's Jonathan Wiltz runs away from the Seminary defense for a long run. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
