Monday, September 27, 2010

Missed opportunities for the Tide

The difference in a win and a loss for the Columbia football team came down to a couple of missed opportunities. Those opportunities added up to a 35-20 non-league loss to Boiling Springs.
On the turf at Boiling Springs, the Tide was moving the ball on offense, but didn’t come up with many big plays on defense until the second half.

The Bubblers scored their first points of the game on their first drive. BS went 76 yards in nine plays, scoring on a 6-yard run by Ryan Miller to take a 7-0 lead with 6:37 left in the first quarter.

After punting on their first possession of the game, the Tide got its offense untracked on their second offensive series.

Starting at their own 20, the Tide behind the passing of Tyler Harrison moved to the BS 4. On the Harrison, the Tide junior quarterback completed three passes to Michael Burke and one to Seth Lefever.

But with four cracks to score inside te four, the Tide couldn’t dent the goal line and gave the ball back to the Bubblers.

After both teams traded punts, BS went in for another score. This time, the Bubblers started at their own 25 and 75 yards and 14 plays later, QB Jared Bliss found Roland Miller and the Bubblers were ahead 14-0 with three minutes left in the first half.

Right before half, the Tide had its second opportunity to score. Columbia got to the Bubbler 11, before self destructing.

The Bubblers went ahead 21-0 on their opening drive of the second half. Starting near midfield, the Bubblers scored with 9:46 left in the quarter on a second Bliss touchdown pass.

Back came the Tide. Behind the running of DJ Wells, Harrison and Johnny Vazquez, the Tide reached the BS 11. On first down, Wells sprinted in from the 11. The Tide botched the PAT and trailed 21-6 with 4:40 left in the third quarter.

Inspired, the Tide forced the Bubblers to punt and got something going again. Starting near midfield, the Tide scored again, this time on a 24-yard pass from Harrison to Burke. Again, Columbia failed to convert the two-point conversion and trailed 21-12 with 68 seconds left in the third quarter.

But the Bubblers answered. Bliss scored, ending a 12-play, 84-yard drive, scoring with 6:33 left in the fourth quarter to take a 28-12 lead.

Columbia answered the score again. Harrison hit passes to Burke, Wells and Nick Nobile to move to the BS 1. Harrison scored on a 1-yard sneak. This time, Columbia converted the two-point conversion as Harrison found Burke in the end zone. With 3:35 left in the game, Columbia trailed 28-20.

But BS iced the game, needing just three plays against a gambling Tide defense, scoring on a 25-yard run by David Cook with 2:22 left.

Columbia tried to comeback. They moved to the BS 11 but a Harrison pass was picked off in the end zone to end the game.

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