The 2025 season is all about one thing for the Columbus High School Falcons: Being disciplined.
In Year 1 under Barrin Simpson in 2024, the Falcons went 3-7 and failed to reach the playoffs, but 2025 brings a reclassification to 5A from 6A and with it the optimism for a playoff berth and potential for a deep run.
“(Our) biggest issue last year was discipline. It was huge to have a full offseason to get stronger and take advantage to get things rolling and control of the culture of how we do things. We got to be more disciplined in how we’re doing things,” Simpson said. “We got to focus on getting better because we have a chance to be a pretty good football team with us bringing back a lot of experience.”
Columbus has eight starters back on offense that will be led by quarterback Dkyren Henderson along with a veteran offensive line that brings back four starters. Running back Jamario Latham is back to lead the ground game. Receivers Jamarcus Mosley and Tavion Bandy are likely the top targets on the outside. The Falcons averaged a shade under 22 points per game last season and scored more than 30 points just three times.
“Henderson did a great job running the offense and he’s a leader, so this year we need more consistent play from him,” Simpson said. “We have four offensive linemen back, so they’ll be older and make our running game tough. We will have some young guys at receiver, so we need guys to step up.”
Defensively, the Falcons have six starters back on a unit that will lean heavily on the secondary and the defensive line. Columbus allowed more than 31 points per game last season while surrendering more than 40 points four times.
Jarvier Clark, Dar’quaylen Hill and Jaden Poindexter will help lead the front seven on the defensive line, while Tyshaun Smith and Jaylon Sparks are back in the secondary to lead the back end. Josiah Jones is back at outside linebacker to provide veteran leadership of a young linebacking core for Columbus.
“Defensively we have a defensive line that is intact, a good group of young linebackers that need to learn,” Simpson said. “Josiah is one of our best impactful players on defense, so he will need to be a leader. Going to 5A is big because we have a chance to be very competitive and we’re in a good district, so we need to be ready.”
The Falcons’ new home – Region 1-5A – boasts a collection of strong teams with old and new faces for Columbus. They now share a district with longtime rivals New Hope (24 meetings all time) and West Point (30 meetings) along with Pontotoc and Caledonia teams they’ve never faced. Columbus has played Lafayette six times previously, including a 20-14 win last season.
The Falcons open the season Friday at 4A Houston, a matchup the Falcons lost 42-8 in 2024.
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