Jacksonville Fl- Tied 21-21 in overtime, the Lee Generals needed to stop the Columbia Tigers from scoring on their first possession. They got just what they needed when linebacker Jeremy Porter sacked Columbia’s quarterback Jordan Smith to force the Tiger to attempt a field goal. The field goal was unsuccessful, giving Lee the ball with a chance to win the game.
Lee’s Zaire Lee would take it to the 1-yard line on a run, but Columbia would hold them out of the end-zone forcing a 4th & 1. Needing only a field goal, Lee’s Coach OJ Small elected to go for the touchdown leaving his offense on the field. He’d give the ball to Cobie Bates who powered his way up the middle for the game winning touchdown as Lee stunned #1 Columbia 27-21.
Lee and Columbia both came into the game from two totally different directions. Lee traveled the low road after losing to Ribault (2-3) last week, while Columbia traveled the high road after defeating Madison County (5-2) and being ranked #1 . The game featured several athletes on the field including Lee’s Cobie Bates, Robert Simmons, Ralph Mency, Jahiem Singletary, Larry Smith and the area’s leader in interception Isiah Jones (4). Columbia brought Jordan Smith, Marquez Bell, La’Vontae Camiel, Lanadrick Bradley, and Kylen Callum with them from Lake City.
Even though Lee was 4-2 and Columbia was 6-0 coming into the contest, history proved to throw the records out the window when these two match-up. That proved to be true early on.
Lee would take a quick 13-0 lead in the game. First, Cale Zarah would connect with Timothy Gallion for a 15-yard touchdown in the first quarter. The second quarter saw Zaire Lee score from 1-yard out as Lee commanded the first half of the game. Columbia avoided disaster as Lee drove down the field toward another score, but Columbia’s Jaiden Tillitson intercepted a pass from Zarah keeping the score at 13-0 going into halftime.
Columbia would wake up in the second half, led by their quarterback Jordan Smith he completed a long pass to put Columbia in Lee territory. He then hooked up with his freshman wide receiver Tray Tolliver for a score as Columbia clawed back into it trailing 13-6. Next Marquez Bell would find the endzone on a short pass from Smith as Columbia tied the game 13-13 late in the third quarter.
In the fourth, Columbia’s defense would continue to stifle the General offense as they did in the third. Linebacker Jaden Dunn would register a sack as the defense stuffed their run game. The defensive play allowed Columbia to capitalize on offense when Smith hit Tolliver again in the back of the end-zone for a skying touchdown catch which gave Columbia its first lead of the night 21-13 in the 4th quarter.
Yet Lee would respond, as Cale Zarah took off on a 45-yard touchdown run for the Generals. Zarah’s all out sprint to the end-zone and 2-point conversion by Zaire Lee tied the game at 21-21 all late in the fourth quarter. Columbia would have a chance at a potential win in regulation when Smith hit his wide receiver Lanadrick Bradley for a 35 yard gain, but Bradley fumbled the ball and it was recovered by Lee to send it into overtime.
It was a big win for Lee who improves to 5-2 on the season. They will undoubtedly jump in the FHSAA playoff rankings as they currently sit 5th in region one. They also get the upper-hand in the district race against Columbia who falls to 6-1.
