Marcus Benjamin
Miami, FL – Last year Columbus’s season ended in the regional final at the one yard line at Tropical Park. Quarterback Anthony Arguelles was stopped and stripped of the ball to seal the victory for Miami High in 2017. Going into this game, Columbus was determined to change this year’s narrative. The Explorers defeated South Dade (Homestead) Friday afternoon 54-28 on the same field that they were eliminated last year.
“That’s where the season ended right there,” said Head Coach Chris Merritt pointing to the goal line. “We completed our mission to get passed that point. Now we have to finish the job.”
Columbus advanced to the state semifinals for the first time since 2015 and will play the winner of Deerfield Beach and Palm Beach Central next week. The Explorers were lead by another strong performance by tailback Henry Parrish Jr. The junior rushed for 216 yards on 18 carries and scored four touchdowns.
“Last year we ended on the one yard line so you know we had to come out with a bang,” said Parrish.
Parrish started his big day with a 21-yard touchdown catch and run matching his jersey number early in the second quarter. The junior followed the score with an eleven yard touchdown rush putting his team up 14-6 with 3:06 left in the half. The opportunistic Explorer defense was able to then take advantage of miscues throughout, as the Bucs threw a backwards pass that was recovered by Columbus deep in South Dade territory. On the next play, junior quarterback Brandon McDuffey found his fullback Michael Cruz-Bustillo across the middle for the Explorers third touchdown.
South Dade was looking to score before the half as they attempted a double pass that was intercepted by Explorer defender Rudy Puig. Columbus maintained a 20-6 lead at the half.
HALFTIME: @ColumbusFtball leads South Dade 20-6 as Rudy Puig gets interception to close half as Bucs attempt double pass. #toetap @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/lGJvTIUhvi
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) November 23, 2018
“At this point in the season it’s all going to come down to turnovers,” said Coach Merritt. “Our defense got us the ball back a couple times and they gave our offense the opportunity to have the ball a few more times, right there before half especially.”
Columbus got the ball to start the second half and marched down the field and added a field goal to their total. After a stop defensively, the Explorers were able to travel down in Bucs territory and score again, this time with an over the shoulder catch by Xzavier Henderson.
The lead was extended 30-6 and coming out strong in the second half was a point of emphasis for the team.
“We talked about it. We were there 12 months ago,” said Merritt. “We had to come out and score on that first drive. We had to put the pressure on them. We knew they weren’t going to give up.”
South Dade did attempt a comeback as senior quarterback Demetrius Burns would not give up on his teammates. He accounted for all four touchdowns for South Dade throwing for three scores in the air and rushed for one on the ground.
Burns connected with senior receiver and Clemson commit Frank Ladsen Jr. for the first touchdown in the second half to start the rally. Burns would close the gap to 15 in the fourth quarter but the comeback was cut short as Henderson would add an interception late and did need help walking off the field after the play.
The Columbus running game of Demetrius Ford and Parrish would prove to be too much in the end. Ford wore the number 30 in honor of late teammate Ari Arteaga for this game.
This all but seals it for @ColumbusFtball as Demetrius Ford trots over the goal line. Score 47-22 with under 3 minutes to go. #spincycle @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/nh5KhyJLVs
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) November 23, 2018
Parrish capped his stellar afternoon with a 60-yard touchdown run to put the game completely out of reach.
“I saw my blockers set the edge so I had to hit the corner and take it for six,” said Parrish.
Their next opponent will be determined Friday night. The Explorers remain undefeated and now are just two wins away from winning their first state championship in school history.
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