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17
Sep
2016

Lee Ends Thirty Year Losing Streak To Columbia: Wins 28-7

September 17, 2016
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Lake City Fl- There was no “Schucking” and Jiving by Lee when they entered Tiger Stadium to face Lake City Columbia, a team they had not beaten since 1986.  Even though Columbia’s All State Quarterback Davin Schuck returned from a suspension last week, Lee’s focus wasn’t on what the Tiger’s could do with Schuck in the lineup, but rather what they could do if they were focused as a team.

” It’s not necessarily what they do as far as their team, I want my guys to understand their assignments and understand their techniques, and the more they understand the faster that we can play “-  Head Coach O.J Smalls

The Generals were fast and furious from the moment they stepped on the field for pregame festivities. They had prepared for this game for an entire year and tonight was their time to let the dogs out.

 

Columbia came out with high energy from the start. Their defense forced Lee to punt on their first possession, however the Tigers muffed the punt and it was recovered by Lee at the Columbia 35 yd line. A large sigh echoed through the Columbia sideline as the Tiger faithful had become all to familiar with seeing these types of plays from their team lately. Sure enough, just a few plays later Lee’s Quarterback Derrick Jones was diving into the end zone to put his team up 6-0 early in the contest.

It was the Lee defense turn to show what they could do and early they set the tone with the physicality. Players like Vincent Davis Jr flew around on the field laying punishing hits on the Tiger receivers and ball carriers.

Yet Columbia was not phased early on as Schuck lead his team on a long drive which ended like it started with Schuck running it in for a touchdown. Davin began the drive with big scrambles up the middle using his quickness and speed. He converted two first downs with his legs, and after his 1st quarter score, it looked like we would have a game on our hands as Columbia secured a one point lead 7-6. Boy were we in for a surprise.

Instead the score would be the only one for Columbia who could not find an answer for the General defense. Lee harassed Schuck all night, forcing him to take off on runs. Lee’s athletes on defensive proved to be to fast for the Tigers to contain. The Generals got after the quarterback for sacks including a big one by Dequan Jackson in the 2nd to stop a Columbia drive. Lee struggled to find running room at times during this eriod of the game, but they also let opportunities slip right through their hands. Quarterback Derrick Jones created plays with his feet to find his receivers, and one potential big play before halftime was all for not as the deep pass slipped through the hands of #3 Devante Johnson. Johnson was injured on the play from a hard hit by Columbia’s Ahmad Williams. Johnson would not return.

Columbia’s defense kept them in the game by capitalizing on Lee’s mistakes. DB Taurean Hill intercepted Jones in the endzone thwarting a potential scoring opportunity. And FS Ahmad Williams got into the action for the Columbia defense securing the second interception of the game for the Tiger defense. At halftime Columbia’s defense had them holding on to a 7-6 lead.

The General band wasn’t the only one to put on a show after halftime, it was now time for Derrick Jones and Cam Wakefield to work their magic. Wakefield found open running lanes that he exploited to move the ball down the field however Lee was not able to turn the plays into points. It would be the defense to ignite a spark of momentum mid way through the third quarter. Lloyd Hayes knived through the Columbia offensive line and laid a punishing hit on Schuck. The pass wobbled in the air and was picked off by LB Keirston Johnson who returned it to the Lee 35 yard line. Jones and Wakefield led the team down the field with Wakefield finding creases in the defense and Jones using his legs and arm to convert on 3rd and 4th downs. Jones would use his legs and his arms during the play that would put his team up for good. He faked the hand off and ran to the left side in a zone read play, but he pulled up and threw a short pass to WR Isaiah Hopson who got his feet down in the endzone to put the Genrals up 14-7.

Columbia attempted to respond but could not get anything going on offense. They attempted to stretch the field on certain plays but could not connect as the Lee DB’s suffocated the Columbia receivers. Columbia’s stud running back Kamario Bell was ineffective most of the game. He found some running room toward the end of the game, but by then the General defense had loosened up wit ha three touchdown lead. Lee would get the ball back late in the third and march down the field courtesy of a 50 yard run by Wakefield. He would knife his way through the Columbia line to get within inches of the endzone. His QB would do the rest sneaking it in from one yard out as Lee increased their lead to 21-7. Jones would add another touchdown to WR Donnie Weatherspoon with just over a minute to play to end any hope of a miraculous comeback. The Final Score Lee-28 Columbia-7

Twelve meetings in 29 years with Columbia coming out on top for all of them, no one expected Lee to go into Lake City and dominate the way they did in the 13th installment of the thirtieth year. In fact Columbia had outscored Lee 163-10 the last three years. So very few people outside of General fans thought Lee was three touchdowns better than Columbia. But Lee used the doubt as determination and placed a chip on their shoulder. The  weight of 20 years all came out through emotion at the end of the game.

It was a big win for the program and Head Coach O.J Smalls. He and his coaching staff have created a new culture at Lee and the players have bought in. The team could not have achieved this historic win without it’s veteran leader’s performances. At critical junctures in the game one of the Lee leaders made a play to prevent Columbia from getting back into the game. They refused to let this game slip away as they did the Raines game in week one. It proved that their mental toughness has risen to the level of their physical toughness, and that spells trouble for the other teams in district 2-7A. Lee improves to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in district play on the season.

 

 

Pictures by Henry Wilson Jr.

 

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About the author

Andre' Ellis, Founder/ Lead Writer DuvalSports.com Florida Times Union All-City 1998,LB, Sandalwood Florida A&M Unv, BA , MBA

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