The Columbia Wildcats finished off the regular season undefeated with a 24-14 road win over Magee Friday night and are in the driver’s seat as the No. 1 seed from Region 8-3A going into the playoffs.
The Wildcats (10-0) draw Franklin County (2-8) in the first round Friday night at home and are facing a Bulldogs team that averages less than 200 yards of offense per game.
Franklin County’s offense operates out of shotgun but is a power team with a big offensive line that tries to control the line of scrimmage, according to Columbia head coach Chip Bilderback.
“It’s a three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust type offense. Defensively we’re going to have to be great on first down and put them in long yardage situation where they’ve got to throw the ball,” he said. “Their defense is big up front, and we’re going to really focus on lowering our pad level and winning at the line of scrimmage up front.”
Bilderback said all year the Wildcats have focused on being 1-0 at the end of every week rather than trying to get to 10-0, and he hopes that mentality rolls over into the playoffs.
Columbia limited Magee’s explosive offense Friday, which averaged 35.7 points going into the game, and forced four turnovers with three interceptions and a fumble.
“They’re a really good football team with a lot of great weapons,” Bilderback said. “Their quarterback is special, obviously he’s committed to Ole Miss. But when your kids play extremely hard you have a chance to make some plays, and I thought we did that.”
Bilderback added that from his perspective it’s no accident that the Wildcats are 10-0 because he saw firsthand the type of hard work and dedication they put in every day since January.
“The last month of October has been tough and a grind, and our kids have fought through some tough predicaments and tough scheduling. I thought we had a lot of a shared adversity, and I think during that time we came closer together as a team,” he said. “For them to finish off what we started in the sense of the regular season, I was proud of them. It’s an accomplishment that they should be proud of. To go undefeated in 8-3A that speaks volumes to the high level you have to play at week in and week out.”
After forcing a three-and-out on the opening possession against Magee, the Wildcats methodically marched down the field, ate seven minutes off the clock and scored on 4th-and-goal with a 5-yard pass from Javen Moses to Josh Brown. The two-point conversion failed, and Columbia’s lead was 6-0.
Then for the third straight game Jamison Kelly intercepted a pass and set up a 19-yard touchdown run by Omarie Johnson with nine minutes remaining in the second quarter. The Wildcats, who failed to convert all four two-point conversions in the game, went up 12-0.
Magee answered quickly as Chandler Pittman scored on a 1-yard run to cut the deficit to 12-7 midway through the second quarter. Columbia blocked a field goal and got into the red zone just before halftime but was unable to come away with points.
Johnson broke off a long run on the first play from scrimmage to open the second half then found the end zone a few plays later on a 4-yard carry that made it 18-7. Magee had 1st-and-goal from the Wildcats 2 on the ensuing drive, but Columbia’s defense stood strong to force a field goal attempt. The snap was bad, though, and the Wildcats took over on downs.
Columbia extended its lead to 24-7 with another Johnson touchdown, this time from 2 yards out, with three minutes remaining in the third quarter. Teshonne Franklin then intercepted his third pass of the year, but Magee forced a fumble and Pittman ran in a 34-yard touchdown that made it 24-14 early in the fourth quarter.
The Wildcats defense stood strong in the fourth quarter to preserve the win as Daquan Ball picked off Pittman and it forced a three-and-out.
Kentrel Bullock got banged up in the game, but Johnson had a season-high 272 yards and three scores in relief of the Ole Miss commit.
“He’s always been a great football player. I’ve said it all year, I think we have the two best backs in the state of Mississippi. That’s the one thing we’ve been blessed with, and make no bones about it we have a great offensive line, too,” Bilderback said. “The thing about Omar is whatever you need him to do every Friday night to win he’ll do. That’s nice to have because there’s been a lot of games where he’s made some big plays for us on defense.”
Bullock is expected to return to full health and be full go in the postseason.
Pictured Above: Columbia's Kentrel Bullock runs against Seminary Oct. 25. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
