It’s playoff time for the Columbia Wildcats after they had to forfeit the final game of the regular season with a few players under quarantine. With the forfeit, Columbia dropped to the three seed from Region 8-3A and will have to travel to Camden Friday night to play Velma Jackson (6-1) on the road.
Having to play the Falcons in the first round of the playoffs is a worst-case scenario for Columbia with them being one of the top teams in Class 3A, but head coach Chip Bilderback is confident about his squad’s chances. He said he believes the tough schedule Columbia played has helped prepare the Wildcats for a difficult first-round road matchup.
“I think our preparation all season is going to help carry us throughout the playoffs,” he said. “It’s going to be a tough challenge. I think the battle we have is going on a two-and-a-half to three-hour bus trip and try to get ready to play (our) best in a win-or-go-home game. That’s what the playoffs are all about.”
Everything runs through quarterback Jordan Harvey for the Falcons, according to Bilderback. The senior has thrown for 617 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 451 yards (10.7 yards per carry) and 10 touchdowns through seven games, and he poses a threat similar — but on a lesser scale — to Magee quarterback Chandler Pittman.
“He’s a great player, and they have two great running backs (Terrance Mack and Devontez Lynn). We’re just going to have to be ourselves,” Bilderback said. “What we pride ourselves on at Columbia is stopping the run, running to the football and being physical. If we can take those things away and make them have to throw it, we’re going to be in a good situation. If we can’t stop the run, it’s going to be a long night for the Wildcats.”
Mack has compiled 840 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on 10.9 yards per carry, while Lynn has 380 yards and five scores on 9.5 yards per carry. This time of year you have to be able to stop the run and run the ball effectively, Bilderback said. But he added Columbia will also have to be able to throw when needed and also pick the right times to be aggressive.
“It’s a one-game season, and we’re going to be aggressive on both sides of the ball. We’re going to do whatever we can to win Friday night,” he said.
Velma Jackson’s defense is just as impressive as its offense with 40 tackles for loss, 18 sacks, six fumble recoveries and three interceptions in seven games. The Falcons are also adept at making plays on special teams with five blocked punts and a punt return for a touchdown this season.
Bilderback said he’s not sure if having the final week of the regular season off will end up being beneficial for the Wildcats to let them get healthier going into the postseason because it could also have an adverse effect of being rusty or coming out flat. But he added he was very encouraged by Monday’s live and enthusiastic practice.
“That’s the thing that’s special about this group; they love practice. They love getting better every single day. They enjoy padding it up and getting after it with each other,” he said. “When you do that on a daily and consistent basis, that leads to the great outcomes we’ve had. That’s been one of the keys to our success this year.”
