Columbus runs past Mandarin for FHSAA 4M state football championship

The Explorers win their second consecutive state championship; third title overall

Author:
Andy Villamarzo
Updated:
Dec 8, 2023 7:23 PM EST
Original:
Dec 8, 2023

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Columbus senior quarterback Alberto Mendoza isn't known for his running ability, but Friday evening he showed a different dimension of his game.

Mendoza ran the ball 20 times for a game-high 141-yards, leading the Explorers to a dominant 38-19 victory over Mandarin for the Class 4M state championship at Bragg Memorial Stadium on Ken Riley Field. For Columbus, it's back-to-back state championships and the third in program history.

"We knew (Mandarin's) defensive backs are really good so we knew we were gonna have to pound 'em," Mendoza said. "The way that this offensive line has developed is absolutely incredible. Just pounding the rock. We knew the running backs would have to block and I was going to have to run, so that's what we did. Thirty-eight points in a state championship game is pretty dang good."

FHSAA 3M Championship St. Thomas Aquinas vs Homestead December 15, 2022 Photo-Matt Christopher98

Much talk around Mandarin's vaunted run game was something to watch, but it would be Columbus showing off its own ability to pound the rock.

Mendoza, who comes off as more of a pocket passer, ran aplenty in the first half. The Explorers called a load of running plays that had zone-read options and Mendoza exploited the Mustangs' front seven over and over.

The first score of the game would come on a Hector Chavez 4-yard touchdown run to put Columbus ahead 7-0. Momentum would continue to steer towards the Columbus side when then the Explorers punched in their second touchdown of the game on a 13-yard Agyeman Addae run, to put the Explorers out in front 14-0.

Needing to answer Columbus' two-score lead, Mandarin put together a drive in the first quarter, ending on a 15-yard strike from quarterback Tramell Jones (Florida State commitment) to wide receiver Jaime Ffrench (Alabama commitment), who finished with seven catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns.

Early in the second quarter, Columbus went ahead by 15 when running back Edward Bandy (16 carries, 95 yards) scored on a 6-yard plunge.

The Mustangs played from behind much of the game as they had simply no answers for the Explorers' run game. It would be the trio of Mendoza, Addae and Bandy that gave Mandarin's defense fits.

Mandarin remained true to themselves in keeping the ball on the ground between running backs Tiant Wyche (11 carries, 96 yards) and Deshard Westcott (13 carries, 70 yards) throughout the opening half. Wyche got the Mustangs within 21-13 on a 21-yard touchdown run with 33 seconds left before halftime.

It didn't take too long into the second half for Columbus to re-establish a two-score lead when Bandy scored his second touchdown on a 1-yard run.

What turned into the sequence that would decide the game was after Mandarin scored on a Jones-to-Ffrench 30-yard touchdown throw to make it 28-19, midway through the third quarter, the Mustangs needed to make a stop on defense and get back on offense. Toby Bullock's bunch got the stop they needed, but not the points.

Just before the end of the third quarter, Mandarin would line up for a field goal and kicker Ben Hipp would miss the kick wide left, keeping it a two-score game. The Explorers drove right down the field and Mendoza (6-of-10, 149 yards) showed off his right arm, hitting junior sensation Bryce Fitzgerald on an in-breaking route and he went 28-yards to pay-dirt.

Photos by SBLive Sports Florida photographer Matt Christopher