Columbia skins Tigers for 3rd district win
By MATTHEW WATKINS

Photo by Terrells Jessen To the ball, Wharton's agressive defensive players swarm to gang tackle a Seay runner in a recent District 24-3A football game.

WEST COLUMBIA - Columbia relied on a strong offense and big defensive plays to take a 38-7 victory over Wharton at Griggs Field Friday night.

The Roughnecks took advantage of a Tiger fumble to get on the board first.

After the Tigers took over at their own 35 on the first drive of the game, there4e was a fumbled snap and the Roughnecks took over at the Tiger 36.

Gray Raley connected with Steven Matthews for 15 yards on a fourth and 5 from the Tiger 31 and two plays later Raley connected with Dexter Lewis for a touchdown.

The 2-point conversion attempt was no good leaving the score 6-0 with 8:24 left in the quarter.

After the Tigers were forced to punt the Roughnecks took over at their own 16 with 11:36 left in the half and added to their lead on the next possesion.

On fourth and 3 from the Tiger 41, Raley connected with Justin Peredo for 40 yards to the Tiger 1 yardline.

Two plays later Peredo ran the ball in for the touchdown. Raley connected with Adrian Baldridge for the 2-point conversion making the score 14-0 with 5:35 left in the half.

The Tigers drove to the Roughneck 11 yardline on their next possesion but turned the ball over on downs.

On the Roughnecks' next drive Raley picked up seven yards to the Tiger 37 and the Tigers were flagged for a personal foul penalty.

Then the next play Raley connected with Peredo for a 22 yard touchdown pass. Carlos Paniagua's extra point made the score 21-0 going into halftime.

The Roughnecks were forced to punt on the first possesion of the second half, but two plays later they recovered a Tiger fumble and took over at the Tiger 40 with 8:48 left in the quarter.

On fourth and 5 from the Tiger 35, Raley connected with Issac Taylor for 12 yards.

Then on first and goal from the 1, Baldridge ran the ball in for a touchdown. Paniagua added the extra point making the score 28-0 with 5:23 left in the quarter.

The Tigers cut into the lead on their next possesion when Robert Herrera connected with Jonavon Jones for a 39 yard touchdown pass.

Justin Sherrill's extra point made the score 28-7 with 3:46 left in the quarter.

The Roughnecks took over at their own 30 yardline on their next drive and added to their lead.

Five plays later Tramaine Thompson ran the ball in from 36 yards out for a touchdown. Paniagua's extra point made the score 35-7 with 1:34 left in the quarter.

The Tigers drove to the Rouchneck 26 yardline on their next drive before turning the ball over on downs.

Paniagua added a 37 yard field goal on Columbia's next possesion with 6:02 left in the game making the score 38-7.

The Tigers fall to 1-5 on the season and 1-2 in district play and host Stafford next Friday for homecoming.

The Spartans dropped to 0-3 in district play after falling to Sweeny 13-0.