Columbus, Southridge unable to finish season opener after several weather delays
Columbus and Southridge tried…and tried... and tried one more time.
But after four days, two postponements and five delays overall, inclement weather would not let the two Miami-Dade County contenders complete their football season opener.
Once again on Monday, despite sunny skies for most of the early part of the afternoon, nearby thunderstorms stopped the resumed contest at Columbus High twice before it was finally suspended with 3:34 remaining in the third quarter.
Columbus led Southridge 14-7 when play was stopped for good.
The teams did not rule out the possibility of trying to complete the game at a later date. But for now it remains suspended.
The game was originally scheduled for last Thursday afternoon at Tropical Park, but was not able to begin that day due to severe thunderstorms.
The teams were able to play nearly a half this past Saturday at Columbus before the game was suspended with 3:30 left in the second quarter and the Explorers leading 7-0 thanks to a touchdown run by Shawn James.
Play resumed on Monday with Southridge taking its first drive downfield and tying the game on a 10-yard touchdown pass from quarterback James Perrone to receiver Jamari Johnson.
Columbus answered immediately, however, when quarterback Kingston Rust connected with a wide open junior receiver Bernard Cannon in the corner of the end zone to put the Explorers back in front.
The game was halted for over half an hour at halftime due to another lightning delay.
Columbus’ defense kept the Spartans offense in check once play resumed.
The Explorers committed four turnovers combined between Saturday’s resumption and Monday.
Spartans senior Montrey Jackson picked off Rust midway through the third quarter.
Columbus had possession near midfield when the school’s lightning detector was triggered again by a nearby thunderstorm.
For the Explorers, Rust ran for 86 yards on 13 carries and completed 5 of 10 passes for 42 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. James ran for 73 yards on 15 carries.
Perrone completed 5 of 9 passes for 35 yards and a touchdown for Southridge while Travis Gamble Jr. ran for 57 yards on nine carries.
The Explorers, who have advanced to at least the state semifinals in 2019 and from 2021 to 2024, will next face Our Lady of Good Counsel in Olney, Maryland this Friday.
Southridge, which lost in the Class 6A state semifinals last year, will next take on Goleman this Thursday at 7 at Milander Park.
MORE SCORES
Miami Beach 7, Miami Springs 0
Palmetto 7, Homestead 0 (susp. 1st quarter): The teams plan to resume their game on Oct. 6 at Harris Field.
This story was originally published August 25, 2025 at 9:11 PM.
