GAINESVILLE-For a program with high expectations and coming off a long playoff run last season, Columbia is heading in the wrong direction come district play.
Missing four starters due to disciplinary reasons, the Tigers saw a 23-0 lead evaporate in a 27-23 loss last night to host Gainesville Buchholz at Citizens Field.
The loss ended a seven game winning streak over the Bobcats, as well as seeing itself lose back-to-back games for the first time since 2011.
The momentum of a run to the state semi-finals of the playoffs is all but gone now after struggling in a season opening win over Gainesville, a blowout loss to Trinity Christian and now a devastating loss last night to Buchholz.
Yes the Tigers lost several key players to graduation but no one could have seen this start coming.
Things started well under sophomore Dylan Blair as Blair hit Kemario Bell for a 66 yard gain on its second possession to set up the game’s first score a Hunter Houston 40 yard field goal to give the Tigers a 3-0 lead.
The Tigers took advantage of young and inexperienced Bobcats quarterbacks picking off several passes in the first half to jump out to a big lead.
Ronnie Collins picked off a Bobcats pass and returned all the way for a score increasing the lead to 10-0.
Ethan Umstead picked off another Bobcats pass returning it back to the 9-yard line which set up Blair’s 9-yard pass to Noah Ruise making it 17-0 with under four minutes left in the first quarter.
Alex Norton picked off new Bobcat quarterback Scott Lester but the Tigers turned it over a few plays later as Blair pass was picked off by the Bobcats.
Sir Rollings picks off Luke Whittemore’s pass, the fourth interception of the first half. Ruise tipped a pass intended for him and it fell into the hands of Alvin Trody for another score and 23-0 commanding lead.
Derontae Jordan picked off Cameron Orth for the fifth interception of the half but the Tigers couldn’t take advantage of it.
However, Blair made a rare mistake and Whittemore returned the interception 90 yards for a score on the final play of the first half cutting the lead to 23-7 at the half.
That play seemed to be the spark the Bobcats needed to get back into the game and the momentum to pull the upset in the second half.
Blair started making mistakes in the second half throwing back-to-back interceptions on the first two drives of the second half.
3rd Qtr Columbia 23, Buchholz 7 High School Football
— Duval Sports ™️ (@DuvalSports) September 9, 2016
Buchholz took advantage of the second turnover with a 35 yard field goal cutting the lead to 23-10.
Buchholz blocked a Tigers punt which resulted in nothing as Collins made the 10th interception of the game.
As the fourth quarter started, Columbia carried a 23-10 lead into the final 12 minutes.
Another field goal by the Bobcats cut the lead to 23-13 early in the fourth quarter.
Blair lost the handle on the ball and into the hands of a Bobcats defender who returned the fumble 42 yards cutting the lead to 23-20 with under nine minutes to play.
All of the sudden we had a game with plenty of time left in the game for both teams to make a final run thanks to a Bobcats 20-0 run.
Buchholz lined up for a game tying field goal in the final minutes of the game and missed the 37-yard attempt.
All Columbia had to do was pick up a few first downs and this game was over but the Bobcats defense wouldn’t budge.
Again Buchholz lined up for a game tying 26-yard field goal but changed their mind and picked up the first down barely.
With time winding down, the Bobcats brought out the kicker again but again changed their mind. With 18 seconds left, Orth found Jared Graddy wide open in the left corner of the end zone giving the Bobcats a 27-23 lead, their first lead of the game.
Columbia still had one final chance but Blair was sacked and just like that the Tigers went down again.
Of course missing several starters didn’t make things any easier for the Tigers.
According to a reliable source, four starters were benched last night for disciplinary reasons. Coach Allen was very upset with them and willing to sit them out the entire year if they don’t show more responsibility.
One of those players sitting out was senior Davin Schuck, a first team all-state quarterback last season.
Schuck tweeted out a message to his team, which has since been deleted, “People make mistakes. Things happen but it is how you handle yourself and come back from it. I let my team down but I will be back.”
There is no timetable for the return of Schuck or the other players suspended but the coaches are confident in the backups.
The source went on to say. “They have lots of confidence in their young quarterback who is just a sophomore.”
One thing for sure they need to quickly get some confidence with Lee coming next Friday to Tiger Stadium for a huge District 2-7A game and also the home opener after three consecutive road games.
*Parts of this story contain information from the Lake City Reporter sports editor Eric Jackson who was at the game last night.
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