Graduation losses are a fact of life in high school football, but sometimes the holes left behind by graduating seniors are just a bit bigger.
Such is the case at Columbus High School, where third-year coach Joshua Pulphus has to figure out how to replace Ethan Conner and Steven Cattledge, each of whom are now playing for East Mississippi Community College.
“This year we lost 95% of our production on offense, and on defense 98% of our production is gone,” Pulphus said.
Pulphus might be exaggerating, but just barely.
Conner accounted for 1,515 of the Falcons’ 1,519 passing yards and 1,011 of their 1,411 rushing yards. He threw for five touchdowns and ran for six on a team that averaged only 11.8 points per game.
Cattledge was all over the field at middle linebacker, recording 133 tackles while no other Falcon topped 42. Twice he made 17 tackles in a game, and he had 16 in two other games. He registered 5.5 sacks, almost half of the team’s total.
Leading receiver Steven Turner is also gone, taking his 456 yards to East Central Community College.
Pulphus said his players know full well just how much production they must replace.
“They do, and we talk about it,” the coach said. “The kids understand the task at hand. They know we just lost Baby Jordan or Baby LeBron, and somebody’s got to step up.”
It’s not that the Falcons don’t have any talent, it’s just that so much of it is untested.
Start at quarterback. Columbus had a robust competition for the starting job, and Pulphus figures senior Omari Williams to be the guy. Williams completed more passes (five) during a two-quarter spring game than he did all of last season (two), both of which went to Conner. Williams spent most of his junior year as a receiver, making 20 catches for 185 yards.
Pulphus was quick to explain what Williams brings to the position: “Stability.”
“I think that’s the best word for him,” Pulphus said. “This is Year 3 for him in the program. He’s always been here. He always works hard. He’s not flashy; he’s not a giant like Ethan Conner, but he does a great job of working and letting the kids see him working. He brings true leadership.“
Pulphus likes his backs and receivers; they just haven’t had the chance to prove themselves. Senior Tawonn Troop averaged 6.6 yards per carry last season, but only rushed 37 times. Another senior, Bryson Lanier, had just 17 carries. Those two will be a “one-two punch,” Pulphus said.
“All of our receivers, this is going to be their first year as starters,” he continued. “Last year they were sophomores, so we’re asking them to step up and fill the huge shoes of … Steven Turner, who was a horse for us last year.”
The Falcons went just 2-8 last year, but five of those losses were by a combined 24 points. Two years removed from a winless season in which they were outscored 456-92, allowing fewer than 19 per game is a sign the program is headed in the right direction, Pulphus said.
“People don’t realize Year 1 (2019) was huge for us,” he said. “We won four games after they went 0-11 the year before. Last year, we went 2-8 against a tougher schedule, but we were competitive in nine games. Our goal this year is to finish out those games.What I would consider success would be us finding ways to finish games.”
And that doesn’t mean looking for cupcakes to help fatten their record.
“We knew we were going to be young going into this season, but I feel the only way for us to jump-start the program, make it where it needs to be, is we have to play good teams, good competition,” Pulphus said. “The challenge is there, the competition is there.”
Still, how well the Falcons can fill those giant shoes will determine whether or not they take the next step.
“We have a lot of holes to fill,” Pulphus said, “but I’m proud of my guys for embracing the challenge.”
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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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Sophomore JaQuavious Bankhead throws passes during the Columbus High School football team's practice on Aug. 17. Tom Rysinski/Dispatch Staff
Columbus High School football players take a water break during practice on Aug. 17. The Falcons open their season Aug. 27 at Starkville. Tom Rysinski/Dispatch Staff
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