Columbus East’s Christian Austin (4), Joel Murphy (5) and Dallas Dykstra wrap up Floyd Central’s Sebastian Robertson Friday at Columbus East High School.
Tommy Walker | For the Republic
Columbus East already was facing a tough enough challenge in Class 5A No. 11 Floyd Central, so it didn’t help when a rash of injuries and other issues took away some of the Olympians’ top players this week.
As a result, the Highlanders racked up more than 300 yards rushing and 500 yards of total offense en route to a 56-28 victory in a battle of Hoosier Hills Conference unbeatens.
“We lost five starters this week,” East coach Eddie Vogel said. “I was proud of the grit our guys showed. I didn’t think we quit. There were some guys that were seeing really their first Friday night action that I thought stepped in and played really well, and that’s something to build on. I think the effort was really good tonight. I just don’t like the result.”
The Olympians (3-3, 3-1) suffered a big setback on Tuesday when leading receiver Keaton Lawson broke his collarbone in practice. Starting wide receiver and defensive back Mykel Jones also was missing, and the third starting receiver and punter, Kamden Shelley, was injured in the first half.
Starting offensive lineman Gabe Burton and defensive back Blake Moss, who started in Jones’ place, also were injured Friday and did not return.
Still, after a slow start, East was able to move the ball for most of the final three quarters. The only problem was, they had trouble stopping Floyd Central (5-1, 3-0).
The Highlanders’ first touchdown came when the Olympians had them pushed back into a third-and-20 from the 28, and their third score came on a fourth-and-14 from the 32. Floyd Central led 28-14 at halftime.
“We had trouble on both sides really in that first half when we let them build that lead,” Vogel said. “We gave up too many big plays on defense. We had them third-and-long and fourth-and-long, and they converted two of those for touchdowns. You can’t beat a good team doing that.”
Quarterback Kyson Villarreal scored East’s first touchdown on a 1-yard sneak, then threw three touchdown passes. Dallas Dykstra, a starting safety, saw his first offensive action of the season and had four catches for 94 yards and two scores. JD Rotert carried 18 times for 56 yards and caught three passes for 40 yards and a touchdown.
“It’s tough when you lose your (three) starting wide receivers, and you have some other guys that step in, but Dallas did a great job, I thought stepping in,” Vogel said. “Kam Shelley went down early, and Jackson Miller came in and made some catches and made some plays. Those guys did a good job blocking downfield so we have a lot to build on.”
Floyd Central 56, Columbus East 28
Floyd Central;14;14;14;14;—;56
Columbus East;0;14;7;7;—;28
FC—Jaxon Stone 28 pass from Jack Mull (Owen Gerlach kick), 8:14.
FC—Sebastian Robertson 8 run (Gerlach kick), 1:05.
CE—Kyson Villarreal 1 run (Aarav Nihalani kick), 7:44.
FC—Luke Jacobi 32 pass from Mull (Gerlach kick), 6:08.
FC—Donovan Taylor 43 run (Gerlach kick), 2:46.
CE—Dallas Dykstra 39 pass from Villarreal (Nihalani kick), :46.
FC—Stone 1 run (Gerlach kick), 7:14.
FC—Stone 1 run (Gerlach kick), 5:22.
CE—Dykstra 29 pass from Villarreal, 2:53
FC—Stone 1 run (Gerlach kick), 11:15.
CE—JD Rotert 16 pass from Villarreal (Nihalani kick), 6:51
FC—Jayden Bricker 4 run (Gerlach kick), 1:12.
Individual statistics
RUSHING — Floyd Central: Robertson 25-190, Taylor 2-89, Jacobi 8-23, Bricker 2-6, Stone 3-3, Mull 1-(-4). Columbus East: JD Rotert 18-56, Villarreal 11-51, Brody Miller 1-2.
PASSING — Floyd Central: Mull 16 for 25, 198 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions. Columbus East: Villarreal 15-25-204-3-0.
RECEIVING — Floyd Central: Jacobi 3-75, Taylor 5-45, Stone 3-37, Zenel Lawless 2-28, Matthew Polk 2-18, Mull 1-(-5). Columbus East: Dykstra 4-94, Rotert 3-40, Paxton Thompson 4-31, Jackson Miller 2-27, Bige Asher 1-7, Kamden Shelley 1-5.
