Columbia defeats Panthers, wins playoff berth

Ridgeview needed to take a lot of chances Friday night to try to beat a very talented Columbia team and steal its way into the state playoffs. But those chances didn't quite pay off the way the Panthers needed them to, and by virtue of a 29-10 loss, they'll be staying home for the post-season.

Columbia (7-2; 2-1 District 5-4A) has earned the runner-up playoff spot behind district-leader Nease. Ridgeview (4-5, 1-2) will end its season next week at powerful St. Augustine.

The Panthers' defense, led by junior lineman J.J. Adams, actually held up pretty well against Columbia's punishing ground game throughout the first half, and two Tiger fumbles and the first of two interceptions by Ridgeview defensive back Branden McGee helped keep the Panthers within striking distance. In fact, if not for a untimely sack of quarterback Derek Hatcher and a dropped pass, the 14-7 halftime deficit could have been a 14-all tie.

But the Tigers came out with renewed vigor in the second half and simply pounded the ball against the smaller Ridgeview defense. The first nine plays of the second half were runs, moving Columbia 59 yards for a 20-7 lead. The Tigers would finish the night with 280 rushing yards, 122 from Brach Bessant.

The game had a sour moment early in the second half as a high-flying Panther, Tyler Bass, went up for a pass and became suspended on a the shoulders of a much taller defender, who proceeded to relieve himself of Bass's weight with what the Ridgeview home crowd believed to be a little too much vigor -- seemingly throwing the smaller receiver to the ground. The crowd booed vigorously at the move and the lack of a thrown flag, and, with Bass still lying injured on the ground, the Tiger defenders jumped in glee and taunted the crowd to boo louder.

Forced to take more and more chances while scrambling from a healthy Tiger pass rush, Hatcher let loose of a pass from his own 14 that found its way into the hands of Tiger DB John Beasley. Columbia needed only two plays to score from the Panther 9 to make it 26-7 and seriously damage any upset thoughts Ridgeview might still have had.

Managing only 37 yards rushing, Ridgeview's only offensive hopes lay with Hatcher and his receivers. But the scrambling QB threw four interceptions in a 15-of-34 effort that saw his receivers drop the ball on several occasions. Hatcher still had 195 yards and a TD pass. Hill caught three passes for 71 yards, including a 53-yarder that led to the Panthers' second-quarter touchdown, but he had leave the game just before the half with a leg injury. Bass caught two balls for 50 yards. Junior receiver Eric Mellies caught the five-yard TD pass. Senior kicker David Hon connected on a 37-yard field goal, as well as the PAT.

Two time-outs were called in the last minute of play as the Tigers, already leading 26-10, drove toward the Ridgeview goal line. Wtih five seconds left on the clock, Columbia kicked a 27-yard field goal.