ARLINGTON — The Columbus High School football (15-1, 7-1) team went to their first ever state championship game and came out victorious Dec. 19 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington
with a 48-14 win over Malakoff High School (15-1, 7-1).
The Cardinals played the same kind of football they've been playing all year long with pure
dominance from start to finish on both sides of the ball.
“We played really, really well tonight against a really good team,” said Columbus head foot- ball coach Matt Schobel. "Just couldn't be more proud of our kids. Thinking about Aleks Me - drano a lot today. Just what these kids have been through and the way they kept persevering. Just very proud of them." Cardinals senior quarterback Adam Schobel put on another stellar performance on the biggest stage with big time throws and making plays for his team. "We've been through a lot this year," Schobel said. "It's really special." Columbus scored their first touchdown on a four yard run up the middle at the 9:25 mark in the first quarter from Grayson Rigdon, then Malakoff answered right back on their next drive with a four yard run of their own to tie it at seven.
The Cardinals went on to score 41 unanswered points on another two-yard run from Rig- don, a 32-yard touchdown catch from Braylon Fisher, a two-yard touchdown run from Schobel, two more rushing touchdowns from Rigdon for 13 yards and two yards, and a catch on an out route from Camdon Pitchford as he dove and touched the front right pylon.
Malakoff rushed for a three yard touchdown with 2:39 to go in the fourth quarter, but the game was way out of reach by then.
Columbus had a comfortable
34-7 lead at halftime and kept their foot on the gas defensive ly in the second half, as well as providing enough offense to keep their big win intact.
Columbus coasted in the sec-
ond half and really in the first half as well, just as they've done
throughout the regular season and even into the playoffs to cap -
ture their first ever state title at 48-14.
Aaron Schobel was named the Offensive Most Valuable Play -
er and John Schobel Defensive Most Valuable Player
