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Westchester, FL — For the second straight year, Christopher Columbus High School will be returning from a championship season. The 8A Gold Tri-County champions will look to add another state championship to its trophy case in 2021.
Sustaining success is difficult for elite programs such as Columbus, who lose marquee players every four years. Aesthetically, the Explorers look the part for the 2021 season, but what happens on the field really tells the real story. On Friday afternoon, Columbus hosted North Miami Beach High School in its Spring Game. This was a close game until the fourth quarter, but the Explorers would sail away with a 28-7 win.
“They’re a good team,” said starting quarterback Fernando Mendoza of NMB. “But we have a great defense this year.”
It was over when…
Senior defensive back Sean Rivero caught an errant pass and rushed down the sideline for a pick-six with 5:37 left to go in the game.
Pick six here by @ColumbusFtball extends the Explorer lead over NMB. The score makes it 28-7 with 5:37 left in the game. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/MkySEEBzMl
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) May 28, 2021
The defensive touchdown was the second of three possessions that sealed the Chargers’ fate in the fourth quarter. The first, an explosive run by Explorer running back Denim Edwards. The senior back got the edge on the right side, spun off of a tackle, and was able to use his speed down the sideline to score on a 54-yard run. After the interception by Rivero, senior Darren McQueen Jr. popped the football free from a Charger receiver which was recovered by junior Rodolfo Sori.
Most Valuable Player
Edwards’s game-breaking run was his second touchdown of the game. The elusive runner would score just before the first half, bouncing outside from just inside the five yard-line to extend the Columbus lead to 14-0. Edwards is a player that can take it the distance at any moment and must be accounted for on every play.
With 7:35 remaining in the game @denim_edwards breaks free. @ColumbusFtball lead NMB 21-7. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/4VwSgsYuJT
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) May 28, 2021
Edwards is being recruited by Army, Navy, and Coastal Carolina and is in contact with Arkansas and Wake Forest.
“I got a great O-Line and a great coaching staff,” said Edwards. “It’s a big responsibility, [being the lead running back at Columbus] we had Henry Parrish and Vershod Quinn in previous years…I’m just going to go with it.”
HALFTIME: @denim_edwards goes in for the touchdown to extend the @ColumbusFtball lead over NMB. Explorers up 14-0. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/PtnQ5b95EV
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) May 28, 2021
Honorable Mention
Phillip Dunnam – Like many of the players for NMB, this athlete made plays on both sides of the football. The senior caught an errant throw at the Columbus 35-yard line and maneuvered his way to the end zone for a pick-six. The touchdown made it a 14-7 game going into the fourth quarter.
END OF 3RD QUARTER: The Chargers of @NMBHigh are keeping it close with Columbus. Phillip Dunnam gets the pick six here to make it a 14-7 game. pic.twitter.com/ZRIdiyfcje
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) May 28, 2021
Mahki Rolle – The junior NMB quarterback was effective in keeping the football on zone-read plays and was able to keep the chains moving for the majority of the game.
Shiloh Conway – The senior wide receiver used his large frame to shrug off defenders and caught passes on out routes and crossing patterns.
Denim Desrosiers – The senior playmaker was used in a variety of ways (bubble screens and jet sweeps) and uses his speed to get into the open field. Desrosiers was dangerous from the slot and the outside.
TJ Capers – The Columbus edge rusher has a high motor and was unofficially credited with a forced fumble that was called down. Capers gets to the football.
“We have plenty of weapons,” said Mendoza. “I have to make better decisions and know when to throw the ball away.”
Mendoza, who played most of the game, completed a touchdown pass to 2022 tight end Eduardo Durand to open the scoring.
The (6-4, 208) prototypical pocket passer has received interest from many Ivy League schools and Georgia Tech, Colorado State, FIU, and FAU.
