Thursday will end with a bang as Columbus takes on Malakoff in the 3A Division I State Title Game. The Cardinals boast two Division I recruits leading their backfield and are making their first-ever state title game appearance.
However, beating the defending champion Malakoff will be a tall task. Last week, the Tigers showcased their toughness, ripping off 20 unanswered points iin the fourth quarter against Paradise to make it back to AT&T Stadium.
This one is sure to excite. Here’s what to watch for on Thursday night at 7:00 in the 3A Division I State Title Game.
Malakoff Tigers (15-0)
Head Coach: Jamie Driskell (16th season; 173-35 record)
Distance from AT&T Stadium: 98 miles
2024 Playoff Results
Bi-District: W 62-13 vs. Tatum
Area: W 70-7 vs. Maypearl
Regional Semifinals: W 31-21 vs. Jefferson
Regional Final: W 35-0 vs. Liberty-Eylau
State Semifinals: W 27-19 vs. Paradise
Key Players and Storylines
A year ago, Malakoff won its first state title in a 14-7 slugfest with Franklin. With how well their defense has played this year, the Tigers would certainly welcome another low-scoring game.
Last week, that defense won them the game against Paradise as safety Jack Hustead‘s pick-six ended up being the game-winning score.
Jack Hustead with a pick-six to put Malakoff up 20-19! Legends are remembered in December. pic.twitter.com/LprqIlcKyJ
— Carter Yates (@Carter_Yates16) December 13, 2024
This week, their task, according to Driskell, is to “do what we can to stop the run.” At the top of that list is tackling well.
That means linebacker Parker Poteete will need to have a huge game. He had 19 tackles last week alone. Michael Elliot is another playmaker at defensive end. He can move well too. In the regional semifinal against Jefferson, he had a 75-yard pick-six.
The offense will run through quarterback Mike Jones. A dual threat, he’s thrown for 2,537 yards and 38 touchdowns, while rushing for 1,050 yards and 11 touchdowns. In the win over Franklin last year, he had 243 total yards.
In 33 out of their 42 plays last week, the Tigers kept the ball on the ground. That means feature back Jason Tennyson (1,748 yards and 25 TDs) and Jerrion Hall (696 yards and 12 TDs) will have big roles to play as the Tigers look to grind out another state title.
Columbus Cardinals (14-1)
Head Coach: Matt Schobel (6th season; 71-13 record)
Distance to AT&T Stadium: 260 miles
2024 Playoff Results
Bi-District: W 48-14 vs. Cameron Yoe
Area: W 48-28 vs. Westwood
Regional Semifinals: W 56-42 vs. Yoakum
Regional Final: W 62-42 vs. Franklin
State Semifinals: W 49-6 vs. Edna
Key Players and Storylines
The Cardinals are set to play for a state title game for the first time in school history on Thursday. They come into this game scorching hot offensively. They’ve averaged 52.6 points in their five playoff games.
Running back Grayson Rigdon will have a lot of the focus on Thursday. He’s looking for his fourth state title after winning one with Strawn and two with Benjamin, both at the six-man level. Rigdon is a threat to take it the distance any time he touches the football. He had 162 yards and four touchdowns in the semifinal win over Edna. He’s now up to 35 rushing touchdowns on the season.
SEE YA! @wyo_football signed @graysonrigdon1 with his 3rd touchdown of the game, a 70-yarder!
35-0 Columbus #txhsfb pic.twitter.com/QQ4g0kVDqk
— Matt Holcomb (@MattyIceMAH) December 13, 2024
But it’s not just a one-man show. Alongside him, TCU commit quarterback Adam Schobel has been a four-year starter for the Cardinals. He has delivered time and time again, completing 74% of his passes for 3,473 yards and 53 touchdowns.
Camdon Pitchford (1,139 yards and 20 touchdowns) has been his go-to receiver. He leads the Cardinals with 80 receptions this season. Sophomore Braylon Taylor (1,257 yards and 15 touchdowns) is another sparkplug that can make something happen in an instant.
Defensively, the Cardinals have the talent to try and contain the Tiger attack. John Schobel (183 tackles and nine sacks) is another Division I recruits at defensive end. Linebacker Rylan Carruthers is coming off a big game last week where he had both a strip sack and an interception. He’s joined by junior Brody Vinklarek (160 tackles) who has been another tackling machine for the Cardinals.
Final Thoughts
Columbus head coach Matt Schobel knows nothing will come easy on Thursday night.
“We have the utmost respect for the Malakoff program,” Schobel said. “They are well coached, have great players, and are as tough as they come. We know we will have to earn everything we get.”
Columbus will want a shootout, while Malakoff won’t mind a slugfest. It will be intriguing to see how this one plays out, and don’t be surprised if it takes the full 48 minutes to find out the state champion.
