For the Columbus High School football team, each Wednesday is a “fun day” on the practice field.
Outside of their normal schedule, the Falcons wrap up the day with a competitive drill. It can include one-on-one tackling drills pitting an offensive player against a defensive player with up-downs on the line for the losing side, as was the case this Wednesday. Or it can be a wide receiver and a defensive back battling for a jump ball deep downfield.
No matter the drill, Columbus coach Joshua Pulphus said, the competitions are designed to teach the Falcons about winning. With two games left in the regular season — both must-win contests for Columbus to overcome long odds and reach the MHSAA Class 5A playoffs — the fun but competitive drills have become even more important.
Friday’s home game against No. 4 Lafayette (7-2) starts the two-game stretch that closes the Falcons’ regular season, and Pulphus knows how good an opponent his team is set to face.
“They’re a good playoff team,” he said. “They’ve played in big ballgames. They know what it takes to win.”
The Commodores have a dynamic offense led by “shifty” sophomore quarterback Tyrus Carmichael-Williams, but perhaps their biggest mismatch against the Falcons is up front.
Lafayette has a talented defensive line of mostly seniors, while Columbus has just two seniors on its offensive line. Only one of the two has played football for more than two years, Pulphus said.
“It’s gonna be a learning experience for our young guys, but had a great week of practice, and I’m excited to see the guys compete and get after it,” Pulphus said. “They know the task that’s at hand, and I think they’re ready for the challenge.”
A win is doubly important for Columbus to erase the sting of last week’s 35-6 home defeat at the hands of rival West Point, the top team in Class 5A.
“We feel like we need to redeem ourselves after the loss last week,” junior quarterback Ethan Conner said. “Come out here and get it back.”
Conner said he’s close to all 10 Falcons seniors, for whom Friday night’s contest is their final home game — and that motivates him further to try for an upset.
“We just want to get the win for the seniors,” he said. “We want to send them out with a bang.”
Pulphus knows a supportive community will do just that for the team’s seniors, regardless of the final score.
“Friday’s gonna be their moment,” he said. “They deserve it. It’s good to see them with their family and friends one last time in front of a good home turnout.”
So when kickoff comes at 7 p.m. Friday, Conner and the Falcons will be focused. They know what’s at stake. They’ll be ready.
“We want to make the playoffs,” Conner said. “We want to do something great.”
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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