Columbia runs past Fort White in spring classic

LAKE CITY – The Florida heat and humidity did not stop football fans from watching the Columbia Tigers run past Fort White Indians, 45-7 on Saturday evening in the annual spring classic.

Both the Tigers and Indians were playoff teams last season and were looking to gain insight on what was working and what needs improvement heading into the summer workouts and conditioning.

Fort White which got the ball first to start the game quickly found out that Columbia’s defense was no match for them.

On the Indians third play of the game a fumble forced by the Columbia defense turned into points for the Tigers as linebacker Zedric Woods took in the recovered fumble from 29 yards out. That put the Tigers up 7-0.

The Indians got the ball back for their second possession of the game and found some gaps in the Tigers defense to move the ball down the field. However, the momentum wouldn’t last long as Indians QB DJ Jackson threw an interception to Columbia’s Will Bowen.

With the ball back for Columbia, the Tigers manage to pull a first down using the power of running back Lonnie Underwood, but several passes by Jake Thomas went really no where, forcing the Tigers to punt the ball away for the first time in the game.

Fort White, again with the ball back possession for their third drive, things went sour quickly as the Indians went three and out.

If Lonnie Underwood had a driver where he put his stamp on the night, it was the Tigers second offense drive that surged Columbia ahead. Underwood who accounted seven carries on the drive, punched it in for the second score of the night from four yards out just three and half minutes in to the second quarter.

That touchdown put Columbia up 14-0 over Fort White.

Once again, Fort White quickly found the ball in and out of their hands on another possession as the Columbia defense was not allowing much of  anything to be done by the Indians.

The next drive for Columbia appeared to be done very quickly as the Indians, put the Tigers into a fourth and short situation at the Tigers 29 yard line. A gutsy call, however paid off as rising sophomore running back Kamario Bell took it to the house for a 71 yard touchdown, giving Columbia a 21-0 lead.

After an exchange of three and outs by Fort White and Columbia on the next possessions, the Indians finally found some sort of grove to their offense as the first half of the game came to a close.

In the second half the game, most of the varsity players for both teams came off the field, replaced by the younger junior varsity players who were just as eager to play in the game.

Columbia which opened up with possession to start the second half quickly found themselves in a punt situation after Lonnie Underwood rushed 19 yards on the first play of the drive. However, the ball would be coming back quickly to the Tigers.

The Indians which were getting their first possession of the second half, was smothered quickly by the Tigers defense forcing a fumble. Columbia quickly recovered the fumble at the Fort White 17 yard line.

Once again with the ball back in possession for the Tigers, scoring more points was the goal. However, the Indians grouped together on defense forcing Columbia to settle for a field goal to take a 24-0 lead late in the fourth.

It was not until very late in the third quarter that Fort White finally saw the boundaries of the end zone. Sparked by a Tyler Reed 45 yard run on a fourth down situation, Reed punched it in for the score on the next play from two yards out. The score cut Columbia’s lead down to 24-7.

However, the rest of the night would go Columbia’s way as they would score three more touchdowns to seal off a huge victory.

With just under two minutes left in the third quarter Earl Frames, a rising junior running back, scored on a 29 yard touchdown run to put the Tigers up 31-7.

The next drive Columbia as the third quarter was coming to a close saw of Daylon Sheppard take it in to the house for the second to final score of the night. Sheppard scored from 44 yards out to give the Tigers a 38-7 lead with just 11 second left on the third quarter clock.

Mariaun Dallas finished off the final score of the night for Columbia with a five a yard touchdown to give the Tigers a 45-7 lead and the win.

NOTES

• Lonnie Underwood and Zedric Woods won the Rope Awards for the best overall player on each side of the ball for spring practice, Columbia Head Coach Brian Allen told FloridaHSFootball.com. Kamario Bell was close to getting the award for the offensive side. Woods won the award on the defensive side of the ball.
• Allen believes Woods is close to getting that major Division I offer that could trigger the flood gates for not only Woods himself, but several other players on the Columbia Roster. He feels that should happen sometime this summer.
• Allen feels Lonnie Underwood and Kamario Bell are going to provide a nice 1-2 punch in the backfield this season, especially after the performances of both athletes turned in tonight.
• The offensive line needs some work for Columbia Allen said. This will be something that will continued to get fixed during the summer.
• Fort White is looking to build depth, something that will be corrected during the summer and going into the fall.
• Coach Jackson told FloridaHSFootball.com that he is looking for a 10th game on the schedule.  A scheduled game against Hilliard was canceled as Hilliard backed out of the game to take on Chipley on the same week of the originally scheduled game.

QUOTABLES

“We know we are definitely out manned [when it comes to the challenge of playing Columbia]. Even though we are a 4A [school], we are the smallest 4A school in the state. We are three students away from being a 1A [school]. It can only help us in the long run. You playing up good competition as the season goes on, I think it will benefit us as when get to big district opponents and other teams” – Fort White Head Coach Demetric Jackson