Columbus East High School

Columbus East High School faced off against Seymour High School in a tough Sectional battle, resulting in a 39-20 loss for CEHS. The Columbus East football team was aware of Seymour Owls' offensive prowess, presenting a challenge: Could they both score against the Owls and prevent them from making substantial offensive gains? Initially, the Olympians seemed poised for the challenge, securing an early 7-0 lead after intercepting Seymour's first offensive drive, with O's QB Kyson Villarreal connecting with tight end Jared Brooks for a 6-yard TD pass. However, Seymour swiftly responded with a 51-yard TD pass from Bret Perry to Jack Pennington, although East blocked the extra point, maintaining a 7-6 lead towards the end of the 2nd quarter. The game took a turn in the 2nd quarter as the Olympians' offense struggled against a determined Seymour defense, resulting in several unsuccessful drives. The Owls capitalized, securing two more TDs and ending the first half with a 26-7 lead. The start of the 2nd half showed promise as the O's scored a 1-yard TD run by Villarreal, but a failed two-point conversion kept the score at 26-13. Despite efforts, the Olympians couldn't stop the Owls, allowing them to extend their lead to 32-13. Nevertheless, a 54-yard TD pass from Villarreal to Brooks brought the O's closer at 32-20 in the 4th quarter. However, Seymour's subsequent seven-minute TD drive solidified their lead at 39-20, extinguishing any hopes of an Olympian comeback. The 2023 season concluded for the Olympians, highlighting the need for the 2024 team to focus on improvement in size, speed, and strength to compete more effectively in the upcoming year.