Timely defense, clutch sacks give Columbus another narrow win against rival Palmetto
The clock ticked away on Miami Palmetto’s annual rivalry showdown with Columbus in Miami and every yard was going to matter. The Panthers took over at their own 40-yard line with about five minutes remaining and inched their way first into Explorers’ territory, and then into field-goal range and then to the edge of the red zone. A touchdown would win the game. A field goal would send it to overtime.
Palmetto got as close to the end zone as Columbus’ 25-yard line and Andre Bailey, with less than 30 seconds to go, tried to make one more play. The quarterback dropped back and tried desperately to find a sliver of space, but the Explorers collapsed on him for a 3-yard sack, forcing the Panthers to settle for trying a game-tying 45-yard field goal.
The kick came up about three yards short.
Columbus escaped with a 17-14 win.
As usual, every yard mattered for the Explorers to beat one of their fiercest rivals.
“We’ve played them in a lot of close games and we’ve been lucky,” Columbus coach Dave Dunn said. “We’ve been finding a way to come out on top.”
Typical for a meeting between these two county powerhouses, neither the Explorers (2-2) nor Palmetto (1-2) mustered much of a consistent offense. Columbus, which has now won six in a row against the Panthers despite averaging only 20 points per game in those wins, led 3-0 at halftime after the two teams combined for just seven first downs.
In the first 42 seconds of the second half, nearly half of the scoring happened. Palmetto started the third quarter with a surprise onside kick, recovered and then Bailey hit wide receiver Marquis Robinson for a 44-yard touchdown on the first play of the ensuing drive to give the Panthers a 7-3 lead, their only one of the game.
Robinson led all receivers with two catches for 53 yards.
Their lead lasted just 28 seconds, though: Miami commit Bryce Fitzgerald returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown and Columbus went back ahead for good, 10-7.
“My coaches came to me. They told me to set the tone after they scored,” the star safety said, “so I had to go get me one.”
Neither team topped 100 passing yards—the Explorers played two quarterbacks and Jason Barket, the starter, threw for just 8 yards, although he did scramble for a 31-yard touchdown on a fourth-down play later in the third quarter to give Columbus the 17-7 lead it needed—and Explorers running back Agyeman Addae, who led all players with 98 yards from scrimmage, followed an 84-yard first half with just 14 yards in the second. Robinson led all receivers with two catches for 53 yards and 44 of them came on his touchdown.
In the end and as it so often is, Columbus-Palmetto was all about the defenses. Explorers linebacker Ethan Barosela had two sacks, including one on the final drive, and Columbus safety Shaddai Carter had a timely interception in the third quarter after a three-and-out for the Explorers gave the ball to the Panthers in Columbus territory with a chance to take a lead.
The Explorers’ third and final sack, though, was their most important, sealing yet another win at Tropical Park.
“We play at a pretty high level up front on both sides and I think it really shows late in the fourth quarter,” Dunn said, “because we have a lot of bodies, a lot of guys that can do it.”