Columbus East High School

COLUMBUS, IN - A late-summer heat wave forced kickoff to be delayed by an hour on Friday night at Stafford Field at Bob Gaddis Stadium, but the extra wait only intensified the energy. True to its nickname, the "Fire Pit" turned into a pressure cooker for visiting Hoosier Hills Conference opponent Seymour, as the Columbus East Olympians delivered a dominant performance to capture their first win of the season in a 42-7 blowout. Columbus East set the tone early on the ground, powered by a breakout rushing attack. Junior Asher Scott led the way, surging for 112 yards and a 10-yard touchdown on 11 carries. Dallas Dykstra added steady production with 63 rushing yards on 12 carries, while Connor Fudge contributed 14 yards on three touches. The ground attack proved lethal all night, capped off late when Daelyn Diaz broke free for a thrilling 54-yard touchdown sprint in the fourth quarter to finish with 50 rushing yards on two carries. Third-string quarterback Gavin Wilcox added the final exclamation point with a 3-yard touchdown run. The Olympians also showcased versatility through the air with a multi-quarterback approach. Sophomore Owen Hatfield started under center, completing 7-of-14 passes for 118 yards while adding a 6-yard touchdown run on the ground. Kam Combest provided an immediate spark in relief, throwing a 55-yard touchdown strike to Jackson Miller on his way to 55 passing yards. Miller anchored the receiving corps with three catches for 73 yards and a touchdown. Paxton Thompson hauled in two receptions for 56 yards, while Carson Gallion provided additional downfield threats with two catches for 48 yards. Special teams and defense completed the comprehensive victory. Will Cochran delivered a major highlight by breaking through the line to block a Seymour punt at the 10-yard line, scooping up the ball at the two, and taking it into the end zone for a touchdown. Defensively, the Olympians suffocated the opposition, limiting Seymour to just one first down the entire night and holding them to minus-3 rushing yards on 37 plays. By cutting their turnovers in half compared to prior weeks and dominating in every phase, the Olympians kicked off conference play with momentum firmly on their side. The O's host another game this coming Friday, September 11th, when they host the Jennings County Panthers. Kickoff time: 7 p.m.