East Mississippi Community College freshman defensive back Alexander Lipscomb was in the postgame handshake line Thursday night at Holmes Community College when an unusual question was asked.
“How about those Falcons?”
Before heading to EMCC, Lipscomb had a standout career at Columbus High School. These days, he is being asked more and more about his alma mater.
For the first time in the 24-year history of the Columbus football program, the Falcons are off to a 3-0 start in Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A, Region 1 play. Columbus (5-2 overall) will look for its fourth straight win Friday night at Southaven (4-3, 1-2).
For a program that has won two playoff games ever, this is unchartered territory.
“There is an excitement level, there is an energy,” Columbus radio broadcaster Anthony Craven said. “Everybody is excited about how well this team is playing. You can sense something totally different when you walk in the stadium this year.”
A new belief
For other area teams, this is simply routine by now. Also in Class 6A, Starkville High School has won 11 straight region games. In Class 4A, Noxubee County has won 18 straight region games. Both of those programs have state championship pedigrees.
Columbus has been on the other end of the spectrum. The Falcons are two wins away from securing the program’s third playoff appearance in the last 11 seasons.
“Each year you talk about goals and the goal is to win a state championship,” Columbus junior quarterback C.J. Gholar said. “You don’t know how realistic that goal is even though you say that is what you want to do. We really believe it around here. That’s the biggest change. We believe it.”
The massive change in mind-set comes in the form of second-year coach Randal Montgomery. Columbus hired Montgomery prior to the 2014 season. At his previous stop, Montgomery guided Hazlehurst to the Class 3A state championship game three straight seasons, winning one title.
When interviewing for the position, Montgomery knew the lackluster history of Columbus. He also knew the location, resources and potential.
“We feel like we have a plan in place to win championships,” Montgomery said. “You will always get the kids to buy in, if you treat the kids the way they should be treated. If you respected them but at the same time challenge them to reach their full potential, then you will have the buy in. Most kids just want to be led. They want to be pushed in the right direction.
“The main question when you start is — ‘Will the administration buy in?’ ‘Will the teachers buy in?’ ‘Will the students buy in?'”
Turning point
Montgomery broke the program down before building it back up. A fiery postgame speech after a home loss to Northwest Rankin knocked the team from postseason consideration last season laid the blueprint. Montgomery asked only the players who wanted to be a part of the program going forward to be there that next Monday. Some lineup changes were made and the team won three of its final four games.
“We weren’t together as a team,” Columbus senor lineman Christopher Deloach said. “We weren’t close to being a team. We had seniors out there just trying to get scholarship offers. If something didn’t go our way in a game, we fell apart.”
On the field, some of the success is traced to a talented trio of juniors — Gholar and running backs Kylin Hill and Kendre Conner are juniors. Top receiver Patrick Washington is a sophomore, as is place-kicker Chris Taylor. The Falcons will have holes to fill on defense but a solid nucleus is being formed.
Columbus opened region play by erasing a 21-10 halftime deficit to beat DeSoto Central 23-21. Postgame, senior linebacker Kiren Sharp said the team would have had “no chance at all” of winning that game a season ago.
Columbus followed that with a 33-9 road win at Tupelo. Tupelo played in the Class 6A state championship game in 2013. It was the type of signature victory Columbus does not have many of in the archives.
For Homecoming, Columbus made it 3-0 with a 45-13 win over Horn Lake. The fans have certainly bought in, with Falcon Field being packed to the rafters and some fans waiting as long as 45 minutes after the game to exit the parking lot. A fan bus is nearing sell-out status for the Southaven trip.
‘Something special’
Montgomery has walked the halls to get more kids out for the program. Last season, 51 players rode the bus in the final game of the regular season. This fall, 105 players tried out for the team and the current roster includes 76.
“All kids want to be a part of something special,” Montgomery said. “You need depth to win in 6A. We are getting there. You can teach the game. You can’t teach the competitive nature. You can’t teach the mind-set and the will to win. Players have to take ownership and learn that on their own.”
The top two teams in the eight-team region host a first-round playoff game. The road to a potential region championship would most likely involve winning at top-ranked South Panola Oct. 30.
Columbus won a school-record 10 games in 2000. Five other times the Falcons have won seven games. Former coach Bubba Davis had state championship success before coming to Columbus but did not win here. Former coach Rusty Funk won state championships before coming to Columbus and after leaving. Both Davis and Funk only coached two seasons with the Falcons.
For former Falcons everywhere, they are enjoying the season as well. Lipscomb played on the last Columbus team to make the playoffs in 2012.
“I try to not miss a game,” he said. “This team is so much fun to watch. I am proud of these guys.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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Coach Randal Montgomery Photo by: Dispatch file photo
