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It was a cold evening of football at Southwest General Stadium for the first round of the 2022-2023 OHSAA playoffs with the Columbia Raiders hosting the Mapleton Mounties. The home team emerged victorious 42-22.
The Raiders relied on their smash mouth running game led by junior, Marco Cirigliano. Marco had a great night with 24 touches for 235 yards and three of the Raider’s touchdowns.
Raider quarterback Carter Kalamasz had a good night as well completing all but two passes. His final stat line read 9/11, 122 yards and one passing touchdown.
The backfield depth shined tonight as well for Columbia. Jacob Sanders and Tony Governale each contributed mightily to the Raiders rushing attack. Sanders had 10 carries for 52 yards and a touchdown, while Governale added 53 yards on 11 opportunities.
On the opposite side, quarterback for the Mounties, Kollin Cline, had himself a good night through the air and on the ground. Cline went 12/19 for 146 yards and 14 carries for 120 yards with two touchdowns.
Mapleton won the toss and elected to start the first half with the ball. Mapleton took full advantage of their first possession. Cline started the drive by connecting with Garrett Kern for 27 yards. That put the Mounties at their own 40.
Kollin Cline decided he would not be outdone and rushed for 26 yards on the very next play. On the ninth play of the drive Cline handed the ball off to Bryon Cucco who took it in from four yards out. Mapleton took an 8-0 lead after a successful 2 point try.
Columbia’s first possession did not pan out as well as Mapleton’s. The Raiders marched the ball down the field 65 yards, only to turn it over on downs at the Mapleton three yard line.
Mapleton’s next drive was very similar to the Raider’s drive. They went seven plays and stalling out on the 42 yard line.
Columbia came out firing on all cylinders in the second quarter. The Raiders took advantage of the field position to go three plays, scoring on a seven-yard rush by Jacob Sanders. All of this was set up by a 42 yard run by Marco Cirigliano. The PAT made it 8-6 Mapleton.
The Mounties went three and out on their next possession and leaving Columbia with good field position to start their next drive. The Raiders put the good field position to use with a two-yard run by Cirigliano to put Columbia up 13-8.
On the next possession, Columbia held Mapleton to a three and out. Columbia was quick to take advantage with time winding down in the half. It took them six plays and a dime from Kalamasz to Vince Berardi for an over the shoulder catch in the back corner of the end zone. The score now read 21-8.
The second half was a slug fest, with each team scoring on alternating drives in the third quarter.
Columbia started off the second half with a bang, needing only one play and a 62 yard rush from Cirigliano. That put the Raiders up 28-8 with 15 seconds needed to score.
Mapleton’s Kollin Cline would hit right back with a big run of his own, 49 yards to paydirt but Mapleton missed the PAT. 28-14.
Columbia struck back on a three-yard Cirigliano rushing score to extend their advantage 35-14.
Cline put the team on his back with time running down in the third quarter. He rushed for 17 yards for Mapleton’s final score of the night, 35-22.
The fourth quarter was all Raiders. Columbia held on to the ball for a majority of the period with the outstanding running from Governale. He topped the quarter off with a 25 yard rush that put Columbia up for good.
Players of the Game:
Marco Cirigliano (Columbia): 24 carries 235 yards, 1 catch 20 yards, and 3TDs
Kollin Cline (Mapleton): 12/19 for 146 yards and 14 carries 120 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Awesome!!!!
Thrilled!!