Columbus looks to build on last year’s success
Quick facts
Coach: Phil Marino, eighth year; 17-54 at school, 43-62 overall
Assistant coaches: Namu Keys, defensive coordinator, Bob Peters, Joe Cherrone, Chris Church, Chris Grier, Winston Johnson, John Randall Lasseter, Chris Alexander, Xavier Billingsley Sr., Kyle Balboi
2015 record: 7-4, lost in Class 5A first round
Region: GHSA 1-4A
Breaking down the team
The Good: This team knows what it takes and what it feels like to have a little success. For the first time in a long time, the Blue Devils are coming off a winning season and a playoff appearance, and that will likely make this group hungry to remain a part of the conversation.
The Bad: Anytime you lose a player of the caliber of an Essang Bassey, you’re going to feel it. Bassey did a little of everything for Columbus, both on offense and on defense, and the team doesn’t have an athlete quite like him who can immediately jump in and fill the void.
Our take: There is still enough talent on this team for the Blue Devils to compete at a high level. They will miss some of the graduated players, but there’s an opportunity for others to establish their own legacies at Columbus.
Roster
No. | Name | Pos. | Cl. |
1 | Donnie Dawson | DB/RB | 12 |
2 | Mike Ramsey | DB/RB | 11 |
3 | Ian Rome | WR/DB | 10 |
4 | Terrance Dixon | S/RB | 12 |
5 | Caleb Bailey | QB | 10 |
6 | Xavier Billingsley | OLB/TE | 10 |
7 | Jordan Geter | WR/DB | 10 |
8 | Ray Thorton | S/RB | 10 |
9 | Quandre Lewis | LB | 12 |
10 | Ty Lucas | LB/RB | 11 |
11 | Chris Brown | WR/S | 10 |
13 | Karlton Williams | RB | 10 |
14 | Darius Hill | RB/DB | 10 |
15 | Hunter Hemmings | QB | 10 |
16 | Patrick Kitchens | P/K | 12 |
22 | Bryce Owens | RB/DB | 10 |
24 | David Galloway | LB | 12 |
27 | Tavian Edwards | DB/WR | 10 |
29 | Jason Bowles | TB/LB | 12 |
30 | Lincoln Jones | LB | 12 |
33 | Nolan Jefferson | TE/DE | 11 |
35 | Mikail Albritton | TE/LB | 11 |
49 | Rhett Griner | LB/NG | 10 |
52 | Aundre Turner | OL/DL | 11 |
56 | Anthony Bonner | TE/LB | 10 |
60 | Tripp Davis | OL/DL | 11 |
63 | Brent Epps | OL/DL | 10 |
65 | Baker Pascal | OL/DL | 10 |
70 | William Nana-Fabu | WR/LB | 12 |
73 | Marvin Crumbs | OL/DL | 11 |
74 | Blake Tew | OL/DL | 12 |
75 | Bayard Taylor | OL/DL | 10 |
77 | Jaylon Hancock | OL/DL | 10 |
78 | Tyrese Uzzell | OL/DL | 12 |
81 | Josh Scarborough | OL/DL | 10 |
85 | Joshua Lee | OL/DL | 12 |
87 | Aaron Flowers | OL/DL | 10 |
88 | Philip Adams | OL/DL | 11 |
90 | Tyviaire Jackson | OL/DL | 11 |
2016 schedule
Date | Game | Time |
Aug. 26 | Jordan (at Kinnett) | 7:30 p.m. |
Sept. 2 | at Upson-Lee | 7:30 p.m. |
Sept. 8 | Callaway (at Memorial) | 7 p.m. |
Sept. 16 | Shaw (at Kinnett) | 7:30 p.m. |
Sept. 23 | Hardaway (at Kinnett) | 7:30 p.m. |
Sept. 30 | Northside (at Kinnett) | 7:30 p.m. |
Oct. 14 | at Westover | 7:30 p.m. |
Oct. 21 | Carver (at Memorial) | 7:30 p.m. |
Oct. 28 | at Cairo | 7:30 p.m. |
Nov. 4 | at Americus-Sumter | 7:30 p.m. |
2015 results
Date | Game | Results |
Aug. 20 | Jordan | W, 37-25 |
Sept. 4 | Brookstone | W, 21-0 |
Sept. 10 | Manchester | W, 20-13 |
Sept. 17 | Marion County | W, 21-14 |
Sept. 24 | Carver | L, 30-3 |
Oct. 2 | LaGrange | W, 21-13 |
Oct. 9 | Shaw | L, 34-24 |
Oct. 16 | Harris County | W, 28-20 |
Oct. 23 | Northside | L, 24-17 |
Oct. 30 | Hardaway | W, 35-6 |
*Nov. 13 | Stockbridge | L, 48-7 |
*Playoffs |
This story was originally published August 21, 2016 at 2:31 PM with the headline "Columbus looks to build on last year’s success."