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Southport quarterback Treavor Gebhart scores versus Columbus North. Video by Mike McGraw
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By Mike McGraw
Executive Director

INDIANAPOLIS – The Oct. 16 game between Columbus North and host Southport became a matter of who could finish what they started. In fact, that is true in several ways. 

In the end, it was Southport who won that battle as well as the one on the scoreboard as the Cardinals beat Columbus North, 22-19, in a highly entertaining game.

The Bull Dogs started impressively. After holding Southport to a three-and-out initial possession, they quickly moved from their own 44 and scored on a 23-yard strike from quarterback Jarrett Brownfield to receiver Keenan Noel. 

The lead lasted only as long as it took Southport to drive from its own 20 to paydirt. The Cardinals were aided along the way by a nifty 44-yard scamper from quarterback Treavor Gebhart. The tally came on a three-yard burst up the middle from Nick Dipatrizio. 

It was the first of many big plays by the junior running back, who finished with 152 yards on 21 carries. This one tied the game at 7 with 3:44 left in the opening quarter.

From that point until the middle of the fourth quarter, the difference in the contest was Southport’s ability to finish a drive with a touchdown while Columbus North had to settle for field goals. 

The Cardinals’ touchdown came on a 15-yard run by Gebhart in the second quarter. Meanwhile, North answered that drive with one of its own to the Southport 9 before settling for a 26-yard Vanand Abedian field goal and a 14-10 deficit at halftime.

Columbus North’s first possession of the second half consumed more than half of the third quarter and again reached the Southport red zone before ending in a 28-yard field goal to make the score 14-13. It would stay that way until a frantic conclusion in the closing minutes of the game.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Southport drove deep into Bull Dog territory only to be stopped on 4th and 1 at the 16. Columbus North was unable to move and punted the ball back to the Cardinals at the Southport 27. 

Unable to move itself, Southport appeared ready to punt the ball away. Whether it was a bad snap or an attempted fake punt we will never know, but the snap hit the up-back and the Bull Dogs recovered deep in Southport territory. 

They took only four plays to turn the opportunity into points, scoring on a 15-yard aerial strike from Brownfield. However, the two-point conversion attempt failed and Columbus North held only a 19-14 lead.

When Southport failed to move on its next possession, it looked for the world as though the slim margin would be enough. Appearances can be deceiving. 

Columbus took over at its own 36. Three plays and two quarterback sacks later, they were punting from their own 26. The kick was blocked by Southport’s Darrice Mason, and the Cardinals recovered at the 15.

The Cardinals immediately finished what they started. It took only one play – a scamper around left end by DiPatrizio – for Southport to score. The Cardinals added the two-point conversion for the final margin. 

Columbus North had one final chance, but was unable to move the ball on three pass attempts.

For Southport, the verdict was a confidence boost heading into an Oct. 23 first-round sectional contest with North Central (Indianapolis). It was a disappointing ending for a Bull Dog squad that generally played well and has to regroup for Round 2 of the Battle of Columbus versus East next week.

Columbus North 7 3 3 6 – 19
Southport 7 7 0 8 – 22

CN – Noel Keenan 23 pass from Jarred Brownfield (Kollin Carman kick)
S – Nick Dipatrizio 3 run (Wes Oliver kick)

S – Trevor Gebhart 15 run (Oliver kick)
CN – FG Carman 26

CN – FG Carman 28

CN – Mitch McIntyre 15 pass from Brownfield (run failed)
S – Dipatrizio 15 run (Jimmy Walker pass from Gebhart)

CN S
First Downs 16 16
Rushes-Yards 31-119 45-384
Passing Yards 128 58
Comp-Att-Int 10-22-0 4-9-0
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0
Penalties-Yards 3-15 4-56

Rushing
Columbus North: Kobi Cook 11-49, Brownfield 15-24, Kyle Staley 3-19, Keenan 2-0
Southport: Dipatrizio 21-152, Gebhart 13-150, Mike Williams 9-26, Denzel Hinton 1-5, Jimmy Bayless 1-[-9]

Passing
Columbus North: Brownfield 10-22-0 128
Southport: Gebhart 4-9-0 58

Receiving
Columbus North: Chris Shillings 4-59, Keenan 1-23, McIntyre 2-22, Staley 1-13, Nick Kruse 1-6, Nash Johnson 1-5
Southport: Dipatrizio 2-51, Cole Biggerstaff 2-7