HIGH-SCHOOL

Columbia routs Trinity Christian in opener

Scott LaPeer Correspondent
Columbia High coach Brian Allen talks to his Tiger offense during a timeout in Friday night’s game against Trinity Christian Academy in Lake City. [Scott LaPeer/Correspondent]

LAKE CITY — Columbia High got an early wake up call from visiting Jacksonville Trinity Christian Academy, but the Tigers regrouped to steamroll the Conquerors on their way to a season-opening, score-settling 38-7 win Friday night.

A year ago, Trinity Christian ruined Columbia’s bid at a perfect regular season, beating the Tigers 31-30 in Jacksonville.

“All week, what I said was we owed these guys something from last year,” Columbia head coach Brian Allen said. “We had something to prove tonight.”

On the Conquerors’ first play from scrimmage, Kalen Killian took a hand off outside and sprinted 42 yards to pay dirt, surprising the Tigers with an immediate strike. Columbia’s defense, though, managed to put it behind them in a hurry, posting a shutout the rest of the way.

“That defense was stellar tonight,” Allen said.

It took just more than a quarter for the Tigers to find some rhythm offensively. Down 7-3, early in the second, Jordan Smith tossed a short screen to Kylen Callum, and the senior spun and ran 22 yards in to put Columbia ahead, 11-7 after Smith ran in the two-point try.

Eight minutes later, the Tigers struck again. Senior Lanadrick Bradley ran a sweep 13 yards to the end zone, capping an 11-play drive in which Smith completed three of five passes and ran three times for 48 yards.

It was 17-7 at the break. The same halftime score from a year ago when the Tigers crumbled.

This year, they only got stronger.

“Tonight, these guys came out and were sound in both areas,” said Allen. “We executed.”

Late in the third quarter, on the Trinity 20 yard line, Smith faked a pitch off the snap and darted up the middle of the field, shedding one tackler on his way to making the score 24-7. Two minutes later, Smith gave it to running back Jailen Brown, and the sophomore took it 20 yards on the ground for a 31-7 advantage.

“This RPO offense—we’re going to do some things to you here, we’re going to do some things to you there,” explained Allen. “You’re going to be guessing. It’s the quarterback’s decision.”

In the fourth, with the Conquerors attacking, Devin Johnson came up with an interception — the game’s only turnover — to give Columbia the ball back on their own 34. On the Tiger’s first play, Bradley caught a pass in the flat, then shot up the sideline 66 yards for the touchdown that clinched victory.

“Lanadrick made some huge runs tonight,” Allen said. “He’s a guy who’s got speed that can stretch the field or we can hand it off to him.”

Bradley finished with five catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns. Smith completed 12-of-18 passes for 213 yards and a pair of scores, plus ran for 48 yards and another.

Columbia (1-0), ranked second in Florida’s Class 6A, travels to Oakleaf next Friday night.