by This recap is brought to you by –
It was a cold night for football at Ken Dukes Stadium at Medina High School. Tonight, was the battle of two, 12-0 teams. Both teams were trying to make it to the first Regional Championship Game in either program’s history. Defense was big for both teams tonight in the cold, with neither side seemingly able to break the big one.
Both Defenses did an outstanding job keeping the game close. Ultimately, Marco Cirigliano intercepted a pass thrown by Liam Kuhn and returned it 99 yards for the pick 6 and the equalizer. Columbia’s Tony Governale also hit from 25 yards out to put Columbia up for good.
The Crestview Cougars won the toss and deferred to the second half. Columbia started their first drive with good field position from the kickoff, starting at their own 39-yard line. Marco Cirigliano started the drive strong with a 5-yard rush on the first play from scrimmage. Columbia’s Carter Kalamasz fumbled 2 snaps on the drive and threw 2 incompletions to force the Raiders to Punt.
The Crestview Cougars, led by QB Liam Kuhn went 4 and out on their opening drive. The Cougar drive was nearly extended when punter Owen Barker was hit after he punted, and the flag was thrown for running into the kicker, but the yardage was not enough to stop Crestview from punting the ball.
The Raiders went 3 and out after Crestview’s defense showed up, and stopped Marco Cirigliano on consecutive plays. As time was winding down in the first quarter. Crestview took advantage of the defensive stop. On 2nd and 12, Liam Kuhn fired a strike down the left sideline to Caden Cunningham 52 yards for a Cougar touchdown. Crestview went up 6-0. On the PAT, the kick was blocked by Marco Cirigliano. The Raiders and the Cougars finished the quarter out on a quick 3-and-out series.
Up 6-0 still, Crestview started the second half receiving the ball. Crestview’s opening possession lasted nearly 9 minutes as Crestview, behind Michael Mays and Owen Barker, took the ball 74 yards on 17 plays down to the Columbia 6-yard-line. Crestview was knocking on the door when Kuhn’s pass for the endzone was picked by Marco Cirigliano. Cirigliano raced past Cougar defenders 100 yards for the pick 6.
To start the fourth quarter, Columbia and Crestview punted on consecutive possessions, setting up one last chance for Columbia to pull out the win. Columbia started their final possession at their own 9-yard-line. With just under 4 minutes to go in the game, Carter Kalamasz hit Jacob Sanders on the screen pass, and Sanders rumbled for 51 yards, putting the Raiders on the Cougar 37. 4 plays later while the Crestview defense was focused on Cirigliano, Tony Governale snuck by, racing 25 yards for the score. Columbia had their extra point blocked, making the lead 6 with 14 seconds left in the game.
That was not enough time for Crestview to come back as Kuhn threw 2 incompletions to end the game. The Columbia Raiders advance to the Regional Championship game for the first time in the program’s history. Congratulations to both teams on a phenomenal game.
Columbia Raiders:
Carter Kalamasz 2/11 for 57 yards
Marco Cirigliano 17 carries for 65 yards, PICK 6
Tony Governale 2 carries 29 yards TD
Crestview Cougars:
Liam Kuhn 4/12 84 yards, INT
Michael Mays 25 carries for 57 yards
Player of the Game:
Marco Cirigliano – Marco turned the tide of the game with his 100-yard pick 6. He carried the ball 17 times for 65 yards.
