Even though the Columbus Titans finished with a 4-6 record last year, coach Dan Grundy felt confident there were better times ahead.
Grundy has seen the talent coming from the junior high ranks for several years now.
“It was hard for it to hide,” Grundy said. “The junior high, especially this sophomore group, won a lot of games. The junior group won a lot of games. So we’ve known about this.”
The Titans are one of only five 7-0 teams in Class 4A and join 8-Man Division I’s West Elk as the only two undefeated teams in the state that had losing records in 2012.
“Experience is big,” Grundy said. “We played a lot of freshmen and sophomores last year, and now they’re juniors and sophomores. But then, just how we’ve played defensively I think has been the big turn for us. We’ve really played well defensively every single game.”
In their second season in the Crawford Neosho Cherokee League, the Titans captured the conference title and also earned a 15-14 win over former Southeast Kansas League foe For Scott. Columbus is enjoying its best season since 1998 when the Titans won their first 10 games before falling in the quarterfinals of the state playoffs.
Other than their 32-26 win over Galena, the Titans haven’t allowed more than 14 points in a game. Columbus has allowed only 63 points all year. Holton, the defending state champion, has given up 62 and is the only team in 4A to allow fewer points.
Junior Taylor Watkins leads Columbus’ defense with 62 tackles. Sophomore Jace McDown and junior Garrett Brittain have 59 and 56 tackles, respectively. Brittain also has six sacks, and senior Travis Hodgson has 41 tackles and five sacks.
Offensively, the Titans are rushing for 247.6 and are passing for 144.3 yards per game.
Junior Nate Bole has been the starting quarterback in all but one game after injuring himself early against Galena and not playing against St. Mary’s Colgan. Bole, who returned as the starter last week against Baxter Springs, has passed for 532 yards and five touchdowns, while rushing for 308 yards and five touchdowns. Sophomore Trey Robinson has passed for 475 yards and three touchdowns.
“Nate gives us a good threat in the run game,” Grundy said. “It takes a little pressure off our backs. When you have a quarterback threat, they always have to account for that. In the passing game, Nate has done well. Both Nate and Trey have thrown for about 500 yards.”
Both quarterbacks have done a good job of spreading the ball around to several weapons.
McDown has rushed for 544 yards and seven touchdowns, while junior Zane Roark has run for 516 yards and five touchdowns. Senior A.J. Randle has 22 catches for 487 yards and six touchdowns, while sophomore Javohn Morrill has hauled in 15 catches for 291 yards and two touchdowns.
“Athleticism has been a positive, but it’s more about how well these guys play together,” Grundy said. “They don’t get wrapped up in individual marks. We have a lot of people to spread the ball to. Well, they don’t even think about. They only think about what it’s going to take to win the game.”
Columbus will try to keep its unbeaten mark alive when it faces district opponents Coffeyville (6-1) and Labette County (2-5) at home for the final two regular season games.
“The community has been very supportive,” Grundy said. “We’ll get the last two games here at home, so we know we’re going to get a lot of support for winning the CNC and for just where we’ve put ourselves. It’s just a tribute to where these kids have put themselves as far as work ethic is concerned. Because you don’t play games year-round, but it’s pretty much a year-round sport when it comes to weights, conditioning, speed training and things like that. These kids have committed to that, and our community will do a great job of supporting these kids.”
West Elk Patriots
After having only one winning season in the previous five, the West Elk Patriots have soared to a 7-0 record this year. The Patriots were 4-5 last year, 5-4 in 2011 and won only seven games over the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons combined.
The Patriots have accomplished this feat with strong play on both sides of tbe ball.
West Elk has pitched four shutouts and has allowed the fourth fewest points in 8-Man Division I with 70. Senior Colt Gordan leads the team in tackles with 69. Eli Smith, Dominic Defalco, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Riccy Burris, Paxton Noll and Carsons Jennings all have at least 40 tackles. Loudermilk also leads the team with eight sacks, and Tristen Wilson leads the way with three interceptions.
The Patriots’ offense has scored at least 42 points in every game. Wilson has completed 20 of 45 passes for 456 yards with nine touchdowns and only one interception. Armando Gomez has rushed for 972 yards and 19 touchdowns on only 108 carries. Noll has run for 363 yards and 14 touchdowns.
West Elk finishes the regular season at home against Hartford and one the road against Oxford. The Patriots are in the driver’s seat to win the district after beating previously undefeated South Haven 44-42 in Week 4.
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