By Maurice Singleton/Sports Writer

COLUMBIA — Pass High (11-2) kept it close in the first half, but the Columbia Wildcats (13-0) pulled away from the Pirates on a three-touchdown run in the first five minutes of the third quarter on their way to a 41-6 win and a trip to the 4A South State Championship next Friday.

“This was another level of football,” said Pass coach Jeff Stockstill. “I thought we had a great year. Our seniors played their butts off. I’m really proud of what our team accomplished. I’m really happy for our school and community.

“But this was another level of football. We made mistakes tonight that we haven’t made all year,” said Stockstill. “We were behind the chains with penalties most of the night. Several drops in key situations. We kept shooting ourselves in the foot.”

The Pirates trailed the Wildcats 7-0 at the intermission, but the home team came out firing in the third quarter, first scoring on a 62-yard Clyde Peters keeper on the second play of the period to go up 14-0. And things got worse quickly for the Pirates as they would fumble the ensuing kickoff, and the Wildcats would recover at the Pirates’ 41-yard line.

Senior runningback Ashton Daniels would carry the ball for the Wildcats on three of four plays, capping the short drive with a 12-yard score with 9:22 left on the third-quarter clock.

The Pirates failed to pick up a first down on their next possession, and the streak of misfortune continued as the Wildcats would block the Pirates punt and the ball would roll out of bounds at the Pirates’ 6-yard line.

Daniels would score from one yard out to give the Wildcats a 26-0 lead with 6:54 left on the third-quarter clock.

The Wildcats would pick up two more scores in the fourth quarter, the first on a 24-yard pass play from Peters to tight end Drew Bilderback. With 9:39 left on the game clock. The final score was a 25-yard pick-6 by Tra Lewis to close out the Wildcats’ scoring.

The Pirates got on the scoreboard with 2:40 remaining on the game clock as junior quarterback Paris Trivillion connected with senior receiver Dwight Thomas for the 14-yard score.

The Pirates did show some resemblance of what their offense looked like during their 9-game win streak on their opening possession, as Trivillion led the offense downfield, completing two passes – a 25-yarder to Larkin Lewis and a 6-yarder to Brandon Laneaux. The drive stalled when Trivillion’s pass was deflected as the Pirates faced fourth-and-12 for a first down.

“There are some teams that can advance to the playoffs and there are some teams that can play for state championships,” said Stockstill. “But unfortunately, we’re not there yet.”

The Pirates’ season came to an end in the third round of the 4A playoffs after wins against South Pike and Morton.

Columbia’s season continues with a matchup against the reigning 4A State champions Poplarville in Columbia next Friday.