Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Tide rises on Mounts


Quarterback Kyle Warfel threw a pair of touchdown passes and running back Jason Price rumbled for 142 yards on 19 carries to lead host Columbia to a 35-7 [box score] victory Friday night.

The Crimson Tide (1-2 Section Three, 2-5 overall) picked up their first Section Three win of the season, scoring touchdowns on four of their first five drives to take a 28-0 lead into halftime against winless Ephrata (0-3, 0-7).

The Mounts avoided a sixth shutout this season when QB Jory Hagen hit Alex Rummel with a 28-yard pass in the third quarter.

Turning point: Austin Hartman’s over-the-shoulder end-zone catch of a pass from Warfel (6-for-11, 133 yards, two TDs) in the second quarter that gave the Crimson Tide a 21-0 lead.

Star of the game: Price, a bull of a running back, scored a touchdown on a 44 yard run late in the second quarter. His running, particularly in the first half, put Columbia in position to score.

Key statistic: Columbia’s three interceptions, one of which was returned 55 yards for a touchdown by the Tide’s Terrence Simms (2 INTs) who picked off a pass, early in the third quarter, that Ephrata tried to throw out of a punt formation.

Quotable: Ephrata placekicker Caroline Stauffer, who kicked her first point-after touchdown (second attempt of the season) after Ephrata’s third-quarter TD: “It felt amazing. All the guys are really supportive.’’

Columbia coach James Burke: “This is the first time we’ve had a lot of success running the football (the Tide rushed for 222 yards) and Jason did a good job after having five fumbles (against Pequea Valley) last week.’’