CEDAR PARK — Cardinals football kept their stellar season alive and is heading to the state semifinals as they took down Franklin High School Lions Dec. 6 at John Gupton Stadium in Ce- dar Park by a final score of 62-42. Columbus had a big lead early in the game and going into halftime, then Franklin climbed back into the game with some big plays on offense and special teams, but the Cardinals were able to keep their efficiency intact with some crucial scores in crunch time.
"We'd seen how they lined up against us last time on both sides of the ball,” said Columbus head football coach Matt Schobel.
"Each year's a new year. Each year you have new personnel, but had a pretty good feeling on what we might see on both sides of the ball today. I'm so proud of our kids. What we've been through this year, I feel comfortable saying that no one's been through what these kids have been through. I'm so proud of them. Tonight was a big, big hurdle in getting over the hump against this team, but we have more work to do." Cardinals sophomore wide receiver Braylon Fisher had two touchdowns on the night, which gave Columbus a huge boost in be- ing able to win the game handedly. "I like a lot about this team," Fisher said. “We’re a good team.”
Columbus made the first score of the game that was answered by Franklin on a goal line touchdown from senior running back Jayden Jackson to make it 7-7. Cardinals receiver Elijah Ush - er caught a touchdown pass for 21 yards as he broke tackles to find the end zone with 2:13 to play for the final score of the first quarter and a 14-7 advantage, then Colum -
bus extended their lead with three touchdowns in a row, two being from Fisher and one from running back Grayson Rigdon to make it 25-7. The Lions responded with a five yard touchdown run to make it 35-14 in favor of Columbus at halftime.
Franklin climbed to within a touchdown in the third quarter with back-to-back touchdowns on runs of 70 and 40 yards to put it at 35-28, then Columbus respond - ed with two touchdowns in a row of their own on another run from Rigdon for 15 yards and a five-yard touchdown catch from senior wide receiver Camdon Pitchford to go ahead 49-28 at the end of the third quarter.
Lions running back RJ Fulton found the end zone for five yards and the first points of the fourth quarter, which led to the Cardinals icing the game with two touch - downs within a few minutes of each other from Bryan Salazar, one from five yards and one from four yards, giving Columbus a 6235 lead with 3:22 to go.
The Cardinals opted to kneel down for the extra point in honor of Aleks Medrano, a member of the team who passed away earlier this year and wore the number 62. Franklin scored a late touchdown in the final minute or so, but Co - lumbus' big quarter propelled them to victory at 62-42.
Columbus will face Edna High School tonight, Thursday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. at Rice University at 6100 Main St. in Houston .
