Columbus downs Hardaway, now waits to see about postseason

Columbus High used a strong, patient rushing attack in running past Hardaway 35-6 at Kinnett Stadium on Friday.

The win was the seventh of the season for the Blue Devils against only three losses. Columbus now has to watch and see if it gets help from a neighbor to get into the playoffs.

"I am proud of these kids, whether the season is over for us today, or not," said Columbus coach Phil Marino.

"Seven wins is the probably the most wins we have had in the last six or seven years combined. It has been a great season for us and I am hoping we get some help because these guys deserve it. We didn't take care of our own business a little earlier, so now we have to depend on someone else, but regardless it has been a great year for our team."

The Blue Devils showed early on their plan to keep the ball on the ground.

In a drive that began at its own 28, Columbus ran the ball on 11 of 12 plays. The drive was kept alive by a running into the kicker penalty on Hardaway after five plays and on first down.

Terrance Dixon had the biggest play of the drive as he rambled 29 yards to the Hawks' 2-yard line.

Ja'Quon Mason took it in from there, and Ryan Anderson's point-after kick gave Columbus a 7-0 lead with 4:53 left in the quarter. The Devils held the ball for almost six minutes on the drive.

Columbus got its second score midway through the second period. Every play of the six-play march was a running play, with the final one being a second big run by Dixon.

The junior shot straight up the middle of the field and ran virtually uncontested to the end zone from 41 yards away. Anderson's kick made it 14-0 with 6:30 left in the half.

"We wanted to establish our running game and that was our plan all week. We wanted to give some guys opportunities to carry the football and it worked out well for us. If we do make the playoffs, we know our opponents will be tough and we are going to have to be able to run the ball," said Marino.

Columbus extended its lead to 21-0 with 4:21 left in the third period. Again, every play in the 13-play, 59 yard drive came on the ground.

Raylynn Thornton carried it in from 3 yards away for the score. Anderson's kick was again true. The drive covered over seven minutes of the period.

Hardaway finally got on the board near the end of the third quarter. The Hawks marched 52 yards on six plays to get the score.

The big play on the drive was a 35-yard pass from Dominque Ford to Kareen Wilson and a roughing the passer penalty added on.

The play put Hardaway at the Columbus 5-yard line. Marco Lee carried in from there. Freddie Zamudio's kick hit the upright and was no good, making it 21-6 with 1:14 left in the third.

The lead became 28-6 early in the fourth period. Interestingly, the passing game made an appearance on the drive, albeit a brief one.

A 17-yard toss from Derrick James to Brandon Palmer put the Blue Devils in the red zone, and the two hooked up again five plays later from 19 yards out for the score.

The game's final score was not an offense one.

Ty Lucas picked up a bad snap in the Hardaway backfield and raced 40 yards for the score. That provided the final margin of 35-6 and came with 2:30 left in the game.

Dixon led the Columbus rushing attack with 96 yards on five carries and one score.

Senior Essang Bassey carried the ball 10 times but was held to just 32 yards.

Derrick James carried nine times for 63 yards. Marco Lee led Hardaway with 51 yards on eight carries.Friday at Kinnett StadiumHardaway 0 0 6 0--6

Columbus 7 7 7 14--35First Quarter

C--Ja'Quan Mason 2 run (Ryan Anderson kick), 4:53Second QuarterC--Terrance Dixon 41 run (Anderson kick), 6:30Third QuarterC--Raylynn Thornton 3 run (Anderson kick), 4:21

H--Marco Lee 5 run (kick failed), 1:14Fourth QuarterC--Brandon palmer 19 pass from Derrick James (Anderson kick), 10:16

C--Ty Lucas 40 fumble return (Anderson kick), 2:30

Team records: Hardaway 1-8, 0-5 Region 1-AAAAA. Columbus 7-3, 3-3. Next: Hardaway, vs. Carver, Nov. 5, at Kinnett, 7 p.m. Columbus, regular season over.

This story was originally published October 30, 2015 at 11:58 PM with the headline "Columbus downs Hardaway, now waits to see about postseason ."