Columbus East High School

The Columbus East football team got its first taste of live action Friday night, hosting the Class 5A No. 12 Whiteland Warriors in a preseason IHSAA scrimmage at the Fire Pit. On paper, the Warriors came in as a formidable test, with nearly 40 seniors on their roster and experience across both sides of the ball. The Olympians, meanwhile, featured a mix of senior leadership and younger players stepping into new roles. Scrimmages provide a valuable opportunity for coaches to evaluate different scenarios and personnel packages, and East made the most of its first outing of the season. Both teams traded scores throughout the evening, each finding the end zone four times. For the Olympians, Brody Miller found paydirt on a rushing score, quarterback Kyson Villarreal connected with Mykel Jones for a touchdown, Dallas Dykstra added a rushing TD, and Dykstra also found Jones through the air for another score. Defensively, the Olympians had to adjust quickly to Whiteland’s challenging jet/fly motion offense—something not easily simulated by a scout team. As the night went on, East’s defense settled in and showed improvement, a positive sign moving forward. Coaches will now turn to the game film to evaluate execution, address inefficiencies, and fine-tune personnel heading into the regular season. Most importantly, East seemed to come out of the scrimmage without any major injuries, while also gaining valuable experience against a ranked opponent. Now the focus shifts to the season opener on Friday, August 22, when the Olympians travel to Bloomington South to face the Panthers, who enter the year ranked No. 5 in the 5A IFCA preseason poll. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. As former NFL quarterback Terry Bradshaw once said: “When you’ve got something to prove, there’s nothing greater than a challenge.”