Columbus High School football coach Randal Montgomery has talked about the process of helping his team learn how to win games.
As Montgomery has put his stamp on the program, the Falcons have become one of the most competitive teams in Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 6A play.
In his third season, Montgomery now talks about helping his team win big games.
The latest opportunity will come at 7 p.m. Friday when Columbus (3-2, 1-0 region) plays host to third-ranked Tupelo (5-0, 1-0 region) in a Class 6A, Region 1 showdown at Falcon Field.
“Winning the big game is one of the biggest challenges you face in building a program,” Montgomery said. “When you build the program, it’s all about buy-in. It’s about the kids believing in what you are trying to do.
“It’s easy to get the numbers up. It’s easy to get the more talented players in your school out for the team. Winning games is the hard part. It’s take a while for the kids to understand the full process of preparing to win games. Winning big games is another step.”
After winning four games in Montgomery’s first season, Columbus doubled that total with eight wins last year. Still, the marquee games against West Point, Noxubee County, and region rival South Panola got away.
The season ended with a home loss to Clinton in the first round of the playoffs. That setback sent the Falcons’ string to 11 years without a postseason victory.
“We are really close,” Columbus senior quarterback C.J. Gholar said. “The biggest change in my time here is in confidence level. We believe we can beat anybody on any given Friday night. That’s a huge step in the right direction. Football is such a hard game that you have to have a belief mentally in what you are trying to do.
“It’s a different mind-set in practice. We practice each day to win a game. I think the coaches try to not build up one game more than another, but you know when you are playing a big game. The other students talk about it. Your family talks about it. There are always a few games each season that are special.”
Columbus’ 33-9 victory at Tupelo last season might have been the biggest win in Montgomery’s tenure. For most of the season, the Falcons started slow in road games. That night was an exception.
Columbus has corrected its road woes, winning at Kemper County, New Hope, and DeSoto Central by a combined score of 134-46. It has to West Point and Noxubee County at home by a combined five points.
“Playing home games the last couple of seasons have been far more exciting,” Columbus senior running back Kylin Hill said. “It seems like everybody comes out and pack the stands. People are talking about the game around town. That is what it has been like at other schools. Now, it’s that way in Columbus.
“We are pumped when we take the field and play in front of a large crowd like that.”
Columbus will try to build on the momentum generated from the 59-13 victory against DeSoto Central, which was the most complete game of the season. Trailing 13-7 midway through the first quarter, Columbus scored the final 42 points of the first half and finished with the most points in a game under Montgomery.
Columbus also had 791 yards. Gholar threw for 308 yards and two touchdowns, while Hill ran for 239 yards and had four touchdowns. The defense allowed one score.
“The confidence level of this team really went up,” Columbus junior running back Patrick Jackson said. “On offense, we can believe we can do anything after that game. The offensive line played really well, and that allowed us run the ball and throw the ball. It’s the kind of win that will help us get ready for Tupelo and the other region games after that.”
On Friday, Montgomery and the Falcons will have another chance to add a big game to their resume.
“It’s a huge opportunity,” Montgomery said. “You don’t want to go into the playoffs not prepared. Games like this help get you ready for that challenge. We just need some positive things to happen. We need the kids to feel good about themselves and have that carry over through the rest of the game.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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