Columbus High School senior running back Patrick Jackson had just played his final game at Falcon Field. He and other teammates stood at midfield and shared a few laughs with players from Oxford.
Jackson was then asked to sum up his three years of varsity football at the stadium. He called the experience “bittersweet.” That description held true Friday night.
Jackson scored on a 5-yard run in the final minute, but Columbus dropped a 17-7 decision to Oxford in a Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 6A, Region 1 game.
“That night pretty much just sums up the season,” Jackson said. “This night was bittersweet, just like much of this year. It’s been a long year. There is no other way to put it. Things have not gone as planned.”
Columbus (2-7, 1-4 region) lost its fourth-straight game and was eliminated from playoff consideration. The Falcons made the playoffs in 2015 and 2016. Jackson and several other seniors always will remember the good times in those two seasons.
“We had some really high expectations when the season started,” Jackson said. “C.J. (Gholar) and Kylin (Hill) helped us realize we could dream big around here. Things just didn’t go according to plan. All we can do now is play as a family and finish the season strong in our last two games.
“This is a different program from when we started playing (on the varsity level). There have been so many ups and downs.”
Columbus won eight games in 2015 and six in 2016. Jackson was an understudy to Hill, who is a freshman at Mississippi State. Gholar played quarterback on those squads and is at East Mississippi Community College.
“I remember scoring my first touchdown on that end of the field (with a point toward the scoreboard end of the stadium) my sophomore year against Horn Lake,” Jackson said. “Then, I dropped a (potential) game-winning pass against Noxubee last year on the other end. There are just a lot of memories. Like I said, bittersweet ones.
“The good times were fun. The bad times were tough. I always had my family here. We are a really close group of brothers.”
Columbus couldn’t keep its postseason chances alive due in large part to an inconsistent offense.
Junior quarterback Laterius Stowers missed two games with a shoulder strain. Last week in a loss to Southaven, he was forced to leave the game early. On Friday, he played the whole game and had his second-best night of the year, going 24-for-45 for 205 yards. Unfortunately, Stowers threw three interceptions.
“We had been playing so poorly on offense,” Columbus coach Randal Montgomery said. “We just wanted to sustain some drives and generate something on offense. We were able to do that. We probably picked up as many first downs (18) as we have all season combined. Oxford has a great defense. A week ago, they shut out one of the best offenses in the state (Horn Lake, in a 21-0 victory).
“We had some success, but when we got down there close, we couldn’t come away with points.”
Columbus’ offensive line also gave one of its best performances, as Stowers was sacked only twice, but they came on the same possession. Still, he had plenty of time to make plays with his arm and feet.
“A lot of things worked for us, even though we didn’t score until late,” Jackson said. “We just haven’t had that big play this year. Tonight was fun for me, because I was able to get out in the open field more and make some plays. As an offense, it just felt like we had more of a flow and rhythm.
“It helps when (Stowers) plays the whole game and does what he can do.”
Oxford (7-3, 3-2) led 7-0 at halftime thanks to a 20-yard touchdown run by Jeremiah Pegues out of a Wildcat formation. Columbus had a 41-yard field goal try blocked as the half ended.
In the third quarter, Oxford scored on back-to-back possessions. A 29-yard Jack Tannehill field goal capped a 39-yard, eight-play drive. A 5-yard run by Pegues capped a 67-yard, seven-play drive.
“The defense played really well again with nothing to show for it,” Montgomery said. “Those guys have competed their tails off all year.”
While the big play has been lacking on offense, the same could be said on defense. The Falcons lost the turnover battle 3-1. Isaiah Karriem had a drop of a sure interception return for a touchdown at midfield early in the second half.
Jordan Randle had an interception for Columbus.
“Oxford has been able to put up points,” Montgomery said. “We held their main players in check for the most part. If you find a way to score earlier in the game, it puts more pressure on Oxford and really changes the outcome.”
Columbus outgained Oxford, 245-221. It was the third time this season Columbus topped 200 yards and outgained an opponent.
Still, the Falcons didn’t score until the last drive, when they moved 58 yards on five plays. Jackson capped the drive by going in from the right side for his second score of the year.
“It’s special to score in your final game (at home),” Jackson said. “I am not going to deny that. It doesn’t make up for the season, though. A lot of nights we haven’t felt the way we wanted to feel.”
VANCE HURT: Columbus junior wide receiver Jervorious Vance was hurt on the final possession.
On a first-down play, Vance had an inadvertent helmet-to-helmet hit with a defensive back. Vance’s helmet came off and he quickly fell to the ground.
Vance was taken off the field on a backboard and transported by ambulance to Baptist Memorial Hospital.
Montgomery said Saturday that Vance regained full movement Friday night and was scheduled to be discharged from the hospital Saturday afternoon.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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