The first challenge has been met.
The next three figure to be a little tougher for the Columbus High School football team.
Last week, Columbus responded to a challenge from coach Tony Stanford to defeat DeSoto Central 34-6. Stanford laid it on the line for his players following a 21-6 loss to South Panola on Oct. 7, saying the Falcons has little margin for error and that they needed to try to win four games in Class 6A, Region 1 if they wanted to have a shot to advance to the playoffs.
Columbus’ victory against DeSoto Central helped it improve to 5-3 and 2-2 in the region. Horn Lake (6-2), Southaven (6-2), and Tupelo (4-4) also are at 2-2 in the region. Considering Columbus as lost to Southaven and defeated Tupelo, a victory at 7 tonight on Homecoming will improve its playoff chances and give it one less team to worry about if it comes down to tiebreakers.
Stanford hopes the Facons can deliver an effort similar to the one they had in the second half against DeSoto Central. After coming out “kind of flat” and leading only 7-0 at halftime, Stanford said the coaches put the players “under the gun” at halftime.
“We told them if they don’t start playing better they’re not going to make the playoffs,” Stanford said. “We told them if they all want to (make the playoffs) that they have to decide they’re going to want it. I think that must have got to them because the whole second half they were upbeat and really playing well.”
Senior running backer Damian Baker led the charge with 174 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Deontae Jones had more than 100 receiving yards and caught two touchdowns, and quarterbacks Cedric Jackson and Trace Lee played well in their rotation.
Stanford doesn’t feel Columbus will look past Horn Lake to Olive Branch, the state’s No. 1 team in Class 6A, because it knows it has to take care of business in what could be the state’s most competitive region.
“The first half we were not mentally in the ballgame,” Stanford said. “I don’t know if it was the three-hour trip or if our kids were overconfident because DeSoto Central (4-4, 0-4) hadn’t won a division game and thought they had a gimme. They didn’t play well in the first half. In the second half they played as good as they have played in a while.
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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