Tide Rolls to First Win

One streak ended and another continued Friday night at Ephrata’s War Memorial Field. In a battle of winless teams, Columbia used a powerful run game to turn back Ephrata, 44-13 [box score].

The win stopped a nine game losing streak for the Tide and was also the first win for rookie Columbia coach Anthony Sottasante.

The loss extended Ephrata’s losing streak to 28 games.

The Mounts had no answer for the Tide’s triple-option ground game. Dyeqeech Miller was the big runner for the Tide, scoring three times and rushing for 243 yards. One of his touchdowns was a 90-yard sprint just before half. Teammate Javon McIntyre opened the scoring for the Tide with a 60-yard run on the Tide’s third offensive series.

Quarterback Meleik Crenshaw also had a big game, rushing for 105 yards on just seven carries.

Ephrata trailed in the game, 16-0, when it scored on a 35 yard pass from Brendan Holbritter to Tyler Mentzer.

Columbia activated the mercy rule early in the third quarter on Miller’s 38-yard score. The 200-yard game was his second of the season.

Turning point: The turning point in this one came right after the Tide (1-2, 1-6) scored on their first possession of the game to take an 8-0 lead.

The Mounts (0-3, 0-7) came right down the field, moving to the Tide 20 when Tyreese Musser picked off a Brendan Holbritter pass in the end zone.

Star of the game: It was easily the Tide’s Miller, with 16 carries for 243 yards and impressive touchdown runs of 55, 90 and 38 yards.

Key statistic: Columbia rushed for a season-high 449 yards against the Mounts. In addition to Miller’s 243 yards, Crenshaw rushed for 105 yards and McIntyre just missed the century mark, finishing with 86 yards.

Quotable: “I’m gonna enjoy this,” said Columbia coach Sottasante.

Up next: Columbia returns home to celebrate Homecoming against Elco, while Ephrata looks to break its losing streak at Pequea Valley.

• Prev
• Next