Junior Brady Hess. (Josh Tu’21/Staff)

On Friday, September 27, the Columbus Academy football team suffered a blow to its state playoff hopes when they dropped to Harvest Prep, 45-24.

The game started horribly for the Vikes, as they were forced to punt on their first possession and then allowed a long, exhausting Prep drive which was capped off by a 5-yard rushing touchdown to give the Warriors a 6-0 lead.

The Vikings punted right back but watched Harvest Prep scamper 60 yards for its second rushing touchdown of the night. The Warriors failed the two-point conversion to keep their lead at 12-0.

Academy punted back, but Prep responded with another long drive, punching in a third rushing touchdown along with a two-point conversion to make it 20-0.

CA’s offense turned the ball over on downs, and three plays later-the Warriors broke loose for a 48-yard rushing touchdown that gave them a 27-0 lead.

On the kickoff, senior Carter Warstler did everything in his power to breathe some life into the Vikings, putting us on the board with an electrifying 98-yard kick return. The defense forced a stop, but CA was forced to punt on its ensuing drive.

Before the end of the half, senior Sam Massick knocked through a field goal to send the Vikes into halftime trailing 27-10.

After halftime, the defense locked down, and junior Brady Hess delivered a strike to Warstler to cut the lead to ten points, 27-17.

But a CA interception halted its momentum, as the Warriors capitalized. They recorded their fifth rushing touchdown to make the game 33-17.

After that, Harvest Prep controlled the game, with a grip on the lead despite Warstler’s second kick return of the night, an 80-yard run.

The game ended with Harvest Prep on top, 45-24. This loss was the Vikings’ third on the season, giving them an uphill battle to make the state playoffs.

They face Bishop Ready on Thursday, October 3, hoping for a much-needed win.