Columbus upset the defending Division 4 State Champion Catholic Memorial 23-21 on a late 31-yard field goal by Corbin Hynes.
Colton Brunell led the Columbus attack with 38 carries for 186 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Columbus would get on the board first early in the 2nd quarter on a Brunell 3-yard touchdown run. Catholic Memorial would respond quickly with a Cory Smith 61-yard touchdown run to even the score at 7-7.
Catholic Memorial would take the lead with 1:12 left in the half on a 17-yard touchdown run by Smith to go up 14-7. But Columbus put a drive together of their own and Nathan Cotter connected with Jefferson Mobry for a 6-yard touchdown with 3 seconds left to tie the game at 14.
Columbus would take the lead with 8:45 left in the 3rd on a Brunell 8-yard touchdown run, the extra point would be no good, and Columbus lead 20-14.
Catholic Memorial would connect on a 49-yard touchdown pass from Isaiah Nathaniel to Bennett McCormick, the extra point would be good and Catholic Memorial lead 21-20 going to the fourth.
Columbus would get the lead late in the 4th when Hynes would get a 31-yard field goal. Catholic Memorial would get the ball back but go four and out, clinching the win for Columbus.
This is Columbus’s third state title and first since 1996.
Full stats can be found here.
