Columbia’s Antoine Jordan (left) blocks a punt by Towers’ Amos Clement (right). He would pick up the loose ball at the eight-yard line and get into the end zone for the touchdown. (Photo by Mark Brock)
In a game delayed at the end of the first quarter on Saturday night by severe weather the Columbia Eagles knocked off the Towers Titans 27-2 in a Region 6-2A contest at Avondale on Monday night.
The Eagles were leading 6-0 before the game was stopped on Saturday on a 35-yard, first-quarter touchdown run by Royce Tolbert.
Tolbert pushed the lead out to 13-0 with 1:30 to play in the first half as he went nine yards on a fourth and goal sweep to the left side. Antoine Jordan added the PAT. The 10-play, 81-yard drive was keyed by passes by Elijah Morgan of 24 yards to Jaden Baugh and 28 to Dontae Pope.
The score remained 13-0 until Jordan blocked a punt at about the 25, scooped it up around the eight and rambled into the end zone with 3:22 left in the third period. Tolbert ran the two-point conversion in to make it 21-0.
Towers drove to the Columbia 36, but was forced to punt. Punter Amos Clement put the punt down to the Columbia 3. Two plays later Towers defensive lineman Terrance Demons with help from teammate Elyjah Askew tackled Columbia quarterback Elijah Morgan for a safety to make it a 21-2 game with 10:56 to play.
Late in the fourth quarter Towers quarterback Isiah Logan dropped back to pass on third and nine at the Titans 21-yard line. Logan tried to avoid the rush, but the ball was knocked loose and Columbia defensive lineman Keyshawn Brewer picked up the football at the 16 and rumbled into the end zone for a touchdown. The two-point run was no good to keep the score at 27-2 with 5:33 remaining.
Towers’ defensive linemen Terrance Demons (57) and Elyjah Askew (40) wrap up Columbia quarterback Elijah Morgan (1) for a safety. (Photo by Mark Brock)
The teams traded interceptions, but neither could capitalize as the final minutes ticked off the clock.
Tolbert had approximately 110 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries to lead the Eagles (2-0, 2-0) on offense.
In other action postponed from Saturday Southwest DeKalb (1-1, 1-0) won a Region 5-5A battle with Lithonia (0-2, 0-1) 27-9 at Hallford Stadium on Monday night.
The Panthers were leading 14-0 when the game was stopped in the second quarter on Saturday. Both teams scored in the second quarter after the game was resumed and went into the half with Southwest DeKalb leading 20-7.
It was still 20-7 in favor of the Panthers heading into the fourth period. The Panthers would strike again to up the lead to 27-7 with 8:26 remaining.
Lithonia would get a safety for the final of 27-9.