Round 1 was a instant classic that saw host Columbia hold off Lee 42-37 in a wild shootout affair, what does Round 2 have in store Friday night. Likely the same type of game. Here is a rundown of what to expect Friday night.
REGION I-7A
No. 5 Lee (9-1) at No. 1 Columbia (10-1)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Jungle
About Lee: Its no secret what Lee is going to do on offense just opposing defensive coordinators have no idea how to stop them. Senior Cameron Sapp (129 of 259 for 2,051 yards, 22 TD, 6 INT) has a bevy of weapons to choose from including a crowded backfield featuring senior Malik Brown, senior Raekwon Williams, sophomore Kevonte Doles as well as outside weapons senior Jurial Caldwell (37 catches for 487 yards, 6 TD), senior Terry McKinley (14 catches for 251 yards, 3 TD) and sophomore Cobie Bates (19 catches for 313 yards, 2 TD). The one guy that sparks the offense and is the go to guy for the Generals is the playmaker Taz Nicholson, the two-way standout, who has accounted for 1.404 all-purpose yards and 15 total touchdowns, including 33 catches for 702 yards and 6 touchdowns at receiver. The defense is led by senior linebacker Trevor James (101 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 7 sacks), senior linebacker Joel Rose (48 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, INT), senior lineman Jacob Olds (37 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 4 sacks), freshman cornerback Jaheim Singletary (6 INT) and Nicholson (4 INT). As Taz Nicholson is the go to guy on offense, junior end Ralph Mency is the playmaker on defense as Mency has racked up 40 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 2 interceptions and 2 touchdowns. Mency seems to always find the ball during games like a magnet and continues to make big plays when the team needs one. Lee had no problem scoring against Columbia in the regular season meeting going up and down the field in a 42-37 game. Seven trips to the red zone and no points through out the game proved to be the difference, field goals on any of those drives Lee likely wins the game. No doubt they must take advantage of all red zone trips as well as all turnovers. Mency and the defense putting pressure on Jordan Smith would also go along way securing a victory.
About Columbia: Trying to defend them and contain them is difficult for anyone, with so many weapons its hard to pick which one to try to stop. The leader of the explosive offense is junior quarterback Jordan Smith (195 of 320 for 3,046 yards, 33 TD and 10 INT), who has also run for 445 yards and 7 seven touchdowns on 69 carries as well. Smith has several weapons to choose from including clutch receivers in senior TJ Jones (42 catches for 883 yards, 8 touchdowns), senior Bobby Fulton (47 catches for 667 yards, 9 touchdowns) and junior Marquez Bell (52 catches for 1,044 yards, 20.1 y.p.c., 13 touchdowns). If junior tailback Kylen Callum is 100% healthy, Callum could be a game changer for the Tigers after rushing for 834 yards and 10 touchdowns on 129 carries. Jones and Bell are two of the most sought after recruits in the state with each having over 20 offers and which ever school gets either of them will be extremely happy as both are big time deep threats and hard to stop. As good as the offense is the defense may be even better, featuring a linebacker trio of junior Le’vontae Camiel (62 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 12 sacks), senior Ethan Umstead (91 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 2 sacks), senior Jaylen Brown (52 tackles, 1 sack). Camiel disrupted plays continually in the regular season meeting with Lee and will need to do the same again for the Tigers to move on. Other guys contributing on defense as well are senior cornerback Sirr Rollins (51 tackles, INT), senior Ahmad Williams (35 tackles, sack) and junior linebacker Marlon Pollack (51 tackles). Columbia did a superb job putting pressure on Sapp and also tightening up in the red zone keeping the Generals off the scoreboard on 7 trips to the red zone. With so much at stake in this one, we believe this one will be won not by the skill players but the trenches, as who ever can protect their quarterback and harass the other quarterback the most will win the game.
Joe Pinkos: Lee by 3
Next: Columbia would host the Edgewater-Lincoln winner, while Lee would host Edgewater or travel to Lincoln next week in the Elite 8 of the playoffs.
Helmets courtesy of FloridaHSFootball.com
