The Columbia football team closes out its season Friday night with a home game against archrival Donegal. It will be a big game for the Tide as they look to close out the season on a winning note for the first time this season.
Friday, the Tide played its final road game of the season when they traveled to Kinzers to face Pequea Valley, who had just one win in the last three seasons and hadn't won a section game since 2003.
On this night, one of the rare nights this season without rain, the Tide struggled against the Braves.
The game started out well for the Tide. On the game's first play, quarterback Seth Lefever completed a 13-yard pass to Michel Burke. But the Tide went backwards and was forced to punt.
Pequea Valley got its offense going on their first possession. Usually a passing team, the Valley Braves came out running and quickly moved to the Tide 30 where they fumbled the ball and the Tide recovered.
Again, the Tide punted, as did PV. On the Tide's third possession of the first quarter, they moved to the Pequea Valley side of the field, but fumbled, their first of four turnovers on the night.
That turnover led to a Pequea Valley score on the first play of the second quarter on a 24-yard pass from Ben Myers to Tyler Schmitt. Brooke Lacock's PAT gave the Braves a 7-0 lead with 11:53 left in the first half.
Back came the Tide. Starting near midfield, Columbia behind the running of DJ Wells, overcame a couple of penalties, scoring on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Lefever to Burke. Jimmy Fisher's PAT was blocked and the Braves still led 7-6.
On this night, Pequea Valley had a little better offensive attack. They answered the Tide's score with an eight-play, 65-yard drive as Myers snuck over from the 1 with 5:12 left. That score following Lacock's PAT gave Pequea Valley a 14-6 lead.
Disaster struck the Tide on the ensuing kickoff. They couldn't field the onsides kick and the Braves had the ball again. This time the Braves moved to the Tide 27 before a fourth down pass fell short.
With time running out in the first half, the Tide using the sidelines to perfection saw two pass completions from Lefever to Wells moving the ball to the PV 41. But a pass over the middle proved costly as PV picked it off with 22 seconds left it the half.
Columbia's third turnover of the first half resulted in another PV score. With 7.2 seconds left, Myers and Mike Rice combined for a 48-yard score. At the break, PV led 21-6.
On the Tide's first possession of the second half, they moved to the PV 36 before fumbling. This turnover did not hurt the Tide as PV went three and out.
Starting at their own 16, the Tide overcame three holding penalties before turning the ball over on downs.
Again, the Tide defense stepped up forcing a punt. But when you are going bad, you are going bad. After Brandon Felus sacked Myers to force that fourth down, the Tide was hit with a 15-yard penalty, which gave the Braves new life. But they were stopped again at the Tide 35.
A possession later, the Braves took a three score led when Myers and Rice combined for a 12-yard score. The Braves now led 27-6.
Columbia responded this tie as with 2:26 left, Lefever and Burke combined for a 28-yard score, but the two-point conversion failed. PV led 27-12 and the Tide would need a miracle.
They almost got it.
On the Braves' possession after the score, Pequea Valley fumbled and the Tide had some life. They moved to the Brave 35 and looked like they might score, but things didn't end well for the Tide.
Columbia had three runners compete in the District Three Class AA cross country championships Wednesday at the old Parkview golf course in Hershey.
Placing for the Tide girls were Rachel Knighton, 55th and Rebecca Kuhn, 85th.
For the Tide boys, Alan Foehlinger placed 77th followed by Derek Zercher, 101st and Tony Bafton, 123rd.
