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Deerfield Beach, FL – In the fourth quarter, Columbus (Miami) had a two touchdown lead and were looking to make it a three score game with a field goal. The 37-yard attempt came up just short on a windy night and Deerfield felt like their championship hopes were still alive. The Bucks took over at their own 20-yard line and attempted a screen pass that unfortunately fell into the wrong hands. Georgia Tech commit Kalani Norris broke on the ball and bolted for the endzone for a touchdown. The Columbus fans erupted and a trip to Orlando became a reality.
.@GeorgiaTechFB commit @KalaniNorris jumps the screen pass for @ColumbusFtball’s second pick six of the game. Score 42-21 with 5:52 left. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/KsyKgdCAsK
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) December 1, 2018
“The school deserves it,” said Head Coach Chris Merritt. “The alumni, the proud tradition of Columbus High School, they deserve it.”
Columbus High School is on their way to Orlando for the first time since 2014. The Explorers defeated Deerfield Beach 49-21 and won on both sides of the ball. On defense they were able to score off of turnovers and on offense they moved the chains to control the game. The senior Norris scored on offense and defense with his first score coming on a 44-yard screen play in the first quarter.
Kalani Norris
Going into the game the Explorers were looking to stall the running game of explosive junior running back Jaylan Knighton and force turnovers with Deerfield’s passing game.
“We knew they had a very explosive offense,” said Coach Merritt. “We wanted to focus on taking the running back out of the game and make the quarterback beat us and not give up the big play and the picks would come and they did.”
In fact they came on the first series. Junior two-way player Xzavier Henderson reached up and tapped a ball lofted in the middle of the field down to himself for the first turnover of the game.
Xzavier Henderson
He returned the ball to the six yard line and junior Henry Parrish Jr. took it in for six a few plays later.
Junior quarterback Derhon King countered on the ensuing drive where he would score on a race to the goal line from 13 yards out. King was blitzed and pressured for most of the game and often hurried on his throws. The Bucks offensive line had several false start penalties and sophomore defensive end Jabari Ishmael was a nuisance that was often moved around and seemed to confuse King in coverage.
Jabari Ishmael
Senior linebacker Elias Morales took advantage of one of those errand throws, intercepted King and took it to the house for a pick six. The score helped make it a 21-7 game in the first quarter.
“We went a lot of man today, coach really trusted us and we came through,” said Norris.
The Explorers made it a 28-7 game when junior quarterback Brandon McDuffey found senior tight end Gary Cooper who muscled his way over the goal line.
.@ColumbusFtball opens up a 21-point lead over Deerfield as Gary Cooper @CooperGary9 dives over the goal line. 28-7 with 8:53 left in the half. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/aU3cZkkG4s
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) December 1, 2018
King would not give up however as he found senior receiver Donte Banton right before halftime over the middle to take his team to the one yard line. Knighton would get in from there and the Explorers would take a 28-13 lead into halftime.
Parrish would eventually wear down the Bucks defense down the stretch. After a scoreless third quarter, Parrish would break through for his second touchdown to help make it a 35-13 game. He would add a third touchdown on a 49-yard sprint breaking free down the sideline with 2:08 left in the game. Parrish rushed for 162 yards on 25 carries and three scores.
“Our line in the fourth quarter feeds off of giving the ball to Henry,” said Merritt. “He found a seam and daylight and he loves ending games that way.”
Columbus lost to Apopka in the state championship game in 2014 and will face Mandarin (Jacksonville) next week for the 8A state title. The game will be at Saturday at Camping World Stadium at 8PM to close the weekend.
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