Defense sparks Columbus' come from behind Florida playoff win over Western
MIAMIA, FLORIDA – For more than a half, Western rode the strength of two pick six touchdown returns to lead Columbus, by as much as 10 points, in a 4M regional final playoff game, Friday evening.
The Columbus defense, which dominated the Wildcats all evening, turned the tables in the second half, as the Explorers scored two defensive touchdowns, including a pick six by Bryce Fitzgerald, who had three interceptions and a fumble recovery in the contest.
When the dust settled Columbus prevailed, 31-13, in a game that was closer than the final score would indicate.
Ed Bandy also rushed for two touchdowns to lead the Columbus offense.
The following is our series of Live Updates that were released in real time as the game was played.
FINAL: COLUMBUS 31, WESTERN 13
4Q: COLUMBUS 31, WESTERN 13
- Western's last gasp is intercepted by Jeff Gandy. Columbus runs out the clock and that will do it. The Explores advance with a 31-13 victory.
- Western gains a rare first down. The Wildcats are on their own 30 with four minutes left.
- Bryce Fitzgerald does it again. Yet another defensive touchdown for Columbus. He grabs a deep throw and returns it 60-yards for his second defensive touchdown of the game. Explorers now lead, 31-13.
- Western is pinned inside its own 10 after the kickoff.
- TOUCHDOWN! Edward Bandy scores again. The PAT is good, the Explorers are getting closer to the state semifinals with a 24-13 lead.
- With five minutes to play, Columbus is back in the Red Zone at the 19.
- Alberto Mendoza moves the ball to the Western 30 with a long run. With the way its defense is playing, one more score could ice this for the Explorers.
- Bryce Fitzgerald makes another big play for the Columbus defense, recovers a Western fumble at the Wildcats' 49. The clock is ticking towards the six minute mark.
- The Western offense, which has little all night, now starts at its own 20 after the kickoff.
- TOUCHDOWN! Disaster strikes for the Western offense. A Wildcat fumble is returned for a touchdown by Columbus'. Extra-point is good. Explorers lead for the first time, 17-10, with seven minutes left.
- The football is punted back to Western. The Wildcats are at their own 44 with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter. This one looks like it will go down to the wire.
- The Western defense, already with two touchdowns, comes up with a sack, pushing Columbus back to its own 25.
- The momentum continues to shift. Bryce Fitzgerald picks off a pass for Columbus. Explorers have the ball at their own 32.
- After the kickoff, Western opens its possession at its own 31.
- TOUCHDOWN! Columbus is back within three. Edward Bandy scores from 2-yards out and the kick is good. Western leads 13-10 with 10 minutes to play.
- Explorers move quickly inside the 10 to the 9-yard line, as they try to close the gap.
END OF 3Q: WESTERN 13, COLUMBUS 3
3Q: WESTERN 13, COLUMBUS 3
- An Alberto Mendoza toss to JJ Gomez moves Columbus to the Western 29. That's the end of the 3rd quarter.
- Western punts it back to the Explorers, who enjoy great field position once again, at their own 46.
- Columbus drives out near midfield, but it is forced to punt. Western gets the ball back with less than a minute to play in the third quarter.
- TOUCHDOWN! Western scores on its second pick six of the game. Zyon Pressley intercepts and returns it 75-yards for the score. The extra-point is missed but the Wildcats now lead 13-3.
- Columbus is threatening again as Edward Bandy runs the ball down to the Western 35.
- Western's offense bogs down and punts back to Columbus. The Explorers are at their own 44 with just over 5 minutes to play in the quarter.
- Robert Czeremcha attempts a 50-yard field goal, but it comes up short. Western takes over at its own 30 with about 7 minutes to play in the third.
- A short loss and another penalty take the Explorers backwards again. They face a third and long from the Wildcat 43.
- A gain of 19 takes Columbus down to the Western 32.
- A penalty moves the ball back to the 49. That's four penalties already in the second half.
- Another first down play moves the ball down to the Western 39.
- Alberto Mendoza connects with Benjamin Blackburn for a nice gain. The Explorers have a first down at their own 48.
- Columbus is on its own 30 as it tries to get a go-ahead scoring drive underway.
- We're underway in the second half as Western kicks to Columbus, as rain begins to fall.
HALFTIME: WESTERN 7, COLUMBUS 3
2Q: WESTERN 7, COLUMBUS 3
- Columbus defense makes another big play as Edward Bandy comes up with an interception at the Explorers two. That will take us to half with Western up, 7-3.
- Daylen Russell with a sack for Columbus. Western pushed back to the 35.
- Wildcats down to the Explorers 26 as they try to get more points in the final minute of the half.
- Western converts a couple of first downs. The Wildcats are near midfield with one minute to play in the half.
- FIELD GOAL: Columbus takes the points as Robert Czeremcha boots a 32-yard field goal. Western's lead is trimmed to 7-3 with two minutes to play in the first half.
- A big fourth down upcoming from the Western 8-yard line.
- A Rocco Bradley reception moves the Explorers into the Red Zone, at the 11.
- Columbus returns the kick to the Western 45 and hits a big first down pass play to Agyeman Addae, down to the Wildcats' 26.
- Wildcats penalized for excessive celebration. They will kick from their won 25.
- PICK SIX!!! Western's Nathan Jean jumps a rout and takes it 83-yards to the house. Wildcats lead, 7-0, after the successful PAT. Six minutes left in the half.
- Tristan Pineda makes a first down catch down to the Western 30 and avoids disaster as he recovers his own fumble.
- Columbus quarterback Alberto Mendoza runs for 35-yards down to the Western 40.
- Western cannot keep the drive alive, punts back to Columbus. 11:04 to play in the 2nd quarter.
END OF 1ST QUARTER: WESTERN 0, COLUMBUS 0
1Q: COLUMBUS VS. WESTERN
- Eliezer Almonte hits for a big gain. Western moves to the Columbus 44 as the first quarter ends, 0-0.
- The Western defense stiffens and gets a turnover on downs. The Wildcats are in business at their own 36.
- A holding call takes the Explorers backwards.
- Columbus is in Western territory. The Explorers convert a fourth and inches.
- Columbus is just shy of midfield as Jose Leon runs for another first down.
- The Explorers convert their second first down of this drive as Aygeman Addae carries the ball out across the 30.
- The Wildcats' drive stalls. They punt it away to Columbus, which will get its first offensive possession of the contest at its own 4-yard line.
- Western's Calerbe Hermane makes a catch and moves the ball out past the 39-yard line.
- Columbus kicks it away and Western will being the opening drive at its own 15.
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