Columbia Faces Robert E Lee in 7A Regional Semifinals

It was quite a night in Tallahassee last Friday night. The regional quarterfinals between Columbia and Lincoln was one for the memory books.

A Look Back

It was tied 21-21 late in the third quarter and Columbia High’s head coach Brian Allen rolled the dice — he used a fake field goal.

Lincoln’s Kai Davis Jr picked it off and took it 76 yards for the touchdown, giving his team a 28-21 lead. With 49 seconds left, Tigers QB Davin Schuck ran it in from three yards out and the teams headed to overtime.

RB Kylen Callum took the first play of overtime and ran it into the end zone, as a Columbia interception on 3rd and goal sealed it for the Tigers.

Next up, Robert E Lee High School.

Up Next

Columbia defeated Lee 53-0 last season, but fell to the Generals 28-7 at home on Sept.16. The rematch is set for tonight in Jacksonville at 7:30 p.m. in the regional semifinals.

Tigers advance to regional semifinal for second straight season. CHS to play Lee in rematch next week.

— Eric Jackson (@epjackson) November 12, 2016

In the 2015 campaign, coach Allen’s team went to the state semifinals where they fell to Viera 42-23. This season has been a roller coaster for the yellow and purple, as they lost three straight early, and are now riding a six-game winning streak into Jacksonville for a shot at the regional finals. A win there leaves only the state semis and finals between the Tigers and a ring.

The Lee Generals went undefeated in the district, 4-0, and are coming off a 42-0 snoozer against Leon in the first round of the postseason. Last year, Lee fell to Lincoln in overtime in that same round, 44-41.

OJ Small coaches the Generals. The former Florida Gators wideout led the SEC in catches in 2002. Small’s team has put up big numbers this year on offense, with 41.5 points per game.

That offense is led by junior QB Derrick Jones. He has 1,456 yard in the air with 15 touchdowns, and 615 yards rushing with 13 touchdowns on the ground. Jones leads the team in carries, but is second in rushing yards to senior Cameron Wakefield (902 yards, 11 touchdowns). Wakefield has five games with more than 100 yards.