BATESVILLE — The Columbus High School football team continues to grind and to show a pulse against a difficult schedule.
Continued offensive improvement and some big plays on defense were the highlights of a 41-7 loss to South Panola on Friday night in a Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 6A, Region 1 game.
After being eliminated from postseason consideration by Oxford last week, Columbus (2-8, 1-5 region) played without playoff aspirations for the first time in three seasons. South Panola (8-3, 4-2) enters the final week of the regular season in a four-way tie for second place in the region.
Despite eight wins, South Panola still could miss the playoffs if a series of results takes place in next week.
For Columbus, the emphasis already is on next year. The Falcons already have played a bevy of young players, and that number went up on a very wet track.
“This team has a chance to be special next year,” Columbus senior running back Patrick Jackson said. “You have seen flashes throughout the season. We just haven’t done it consistently. One big injury here or there has really hurt us.
“This program is a lot different than it once was. The players are going to keep fighting.”
Columbus scored first when Isaiah Karriem stripped quarterback Patrick Shegog and Jordan Randle returned the fumble 67 yards for a touchdown.
Randle handles punt and kick returns for the Falcons. He had vowed to break a long touchdown this season.
“It was a great way to start,” Randle said. “It got the whole sidelines energized. This team has always come out ready to play. A big return can help lift a team. It gets everybody going. We have had a tough time having the good start.”
South Panola answered on a short field after a fumble recovery.
In the second quarter, Shegog broke a couple of long runs on draw plays. The touchdown runs of 51 and 24 yards helped push South Panola to a 27-7 advantage.
Columbus responded with possibly its best drive of the season. The Falcons drove 79 yards to the South Panola 1-yard line using some balance with Laterius Stowers passing and Jackson leading the ground game. A critical penalty placed Columbus in the red zone.
However, the half ended with Jackson being tackled at the 1-yard line.
“Not scoring to end the half was a really big sequence,” Columbus coach Randal Montgomery said. “That was a really great drive. The last two weeks we have had a better performance on offense. The line has blocked well, and that has given us more time to try some things.
“It is difficult on a wet field to hang on to the ball. Each team was going to have some mistakes there.”
South Panola seized the momentum by scoring on the first possession of the second half.
Columbus continued to get lifts defensively from Josh Gray, Devon King, Karriem, and Montrez Williams. King had five pass breakups.
Still, the Randle fumble return was the only takeaway on a night when it was best to stay on the ground.
Columbus finished with 151 yards and seven first downs. Jackson earned the team’s second 100-yard game with 118 yards on 23 tries. He played with passion and broke a series of tackles on a couple of long runs.
“As seniors, you are just trying to set an example for the younger guys,” Jackson said. “If you play hard, they are going to play hard. We haven’t been as aggressive as we need to be. We are trying to leave that for the younger guys.”
Columbus will travel to Hernando (4-6, 1-5) for the regular-season finale.
“We want to end on a good note,” Jackson said. “Even though we haven’t won as many games as we would have liked, you want to end as a winner. Everybody does.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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