Columbia Tigers Take On Lincoln Trojans for First Round of the Playoffs

The Columbia Tigers (6-3) ended their regular season on a high note, winning five straight after losing three in a row.

For the second consecutive year, they face the Lincoln Trojans (5-3) in the playoffs. Last year, it was the regional semifinals and Columbia came out with a 57-20 victory before losing in the state semifinals to Viera.

That was in Lake City, this time it’s in Tallahassee. The Trojans are looking for revenge after losing twice to the Tigers last season, 23-14 at home against Columbia in Week 2.

Columbia’s last time out was against Suwannee, a 31-17 win, where the Tigers defense held the Bulldogs to only 32 yards in the air but surrendered 215 rushing yards.

Key Players

The Tigers will have to rely on senior QB Davin Schuck, who threw for 264 yards with four touchdowns, and rushed for 95 yards with a touchdown in the 37-point playoff win over Lincoln last year. Kamario Bell is the lead running back for Columbia. The senior ran for 73 yards in that game last year, and is averaging 4.5 yards per carry this season.

For Lincoln, it’s also a senior under center in Chris Brimm who has thrown for 1,337 yards and 14 touchdowns with five interceptions. He is averaging 167 yards a game passing, and has 69 rushing yards with four rushing scores. At running back, Chris Stewart has 76 carries for 427 yards and one touchdown.

In the playoff game last year, Brimm was 18-for-37 for 187 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions.

The Trojans could only muster 260 offensive yards in that meeting, while Columbia ran for 306 and threw for 279 for a total of 585.

The rematch is set for Friday night in Tallahassee at 7:30 p.m. The winner takes on the winner of Lee and Leon next Friday night at 7:30 p.m. as well.

Columbia lost to Lee 28-7 this season, while Lincoln defeated Leon 26-3.