COLUMBUS COUNTY FOOTBALL ROUNDUP
Halloween night brought drama, playoff implications, and a major upset across Columbus County as the high school football regular season came to a close.
The biggest headline came from Tabor City, where South Columbus knocked off previously conference-unbeaten Whiteville in a game that reshaped the Southeastern Conference championship picture. Meanwhile, West Columbus finished strong with a convincing win over Union, while East Columbus struggled offensively in a loss to Lakewood.
SOUTH COLUMBUS 22, WHITEVILLE 15
South Columbus turned Senior Night into one of the county’s biggest victories of the season, upsetting Whiteville 22-15 and earning a share of the Southeastern Conference championship.
The Stallions struck first when Easton McPherson scored on an eight-yard run late in the second quarter, giving South Columbus a 7-0 halftime advantage. McPherson later hauled in an 89-yard touchdown reception from Jaxon Greene as the Stallions extended their lead to 13-0.
After an intentional grounding penalty in Whiteville’s end zone made it 15-0, the Wolfpack mounted a furious comeback. Layton McLean scored on a seven-yard run before Whiteville recovered an onside kick and converted it into a touchdown by Sabeyhon Shipman. A two-point conversion tied the game at 15-15 with just over six minutes remaining.
South Columbus answered with a championship-caliber drive, capped by Briar Johnson’s two-yard touchdown run with 58 seconds left. A late interception secured the victory.
The win lifted South Columbus to 6-4 overall and 4-1 in conference play, putting the Stallions in position to host a playoff game. Whiteville finished the regular season 7-3 overall and 4-1 in league play.
Key Performers: • Easton McPherson: 2 touchdowns • Jaxon Greene: 89-yard touchdown pass • Briar Johnson: Game-winning touchdown run • Layton McLean (Whiteville): Rushing touchdown and two-point conversion pass.
WEST COLUMBUS 36, UNION 6
The Vikings finished their season on a high note, dominating Union 36-6 in Cerro Gordo.
Senior quarterback DJ Graham delivered one of his best performances of the year. Graham rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns while throwing for 215 yards and three more scores, accounting for five touchdowns total.
West Columbus has shown significant improvement late in the season, winning consecutive games and allowing just 20 combined points during that stretch. The Vikings closed the regular season with momentum and a 4-7 overall record.
Key Performers: • DJ Graham: 215 passing yards, 144 rushing yards, 5 total touchdowns • West Columbus defense: Allowed just six points.
LAKEWOOD 14, EAST COLUMBUS 0
East Columbus was unable to generate offensive momentum and dropped a 14-0 decision to Lakewood in the regular-season finale.
The Gators were shut out for the second time this season and finished the year 4-6 overall. Lakewood’s defense controlled the game throughout, preventing East Columbus from finding the end zone.
Despite the loss, several East Columbus players put together productive seasons. Demetrius Dexter led the Gators in rushing and was among the team’s top overall playmakers, while Dawson Crosby paced the defense in tackles.
FINAL WEEK SCOREBOARD
South Columbus 22, Whiteville 15
West Columbus 36, Union 6
Lakewood 14, East Columbus 0
LOOKING AHEAD
South Columbus enters the state playoffs as one of the county’s hottest teams after knocking off Whiteville and earning a share of the conference title. Whiteville remains a dangerous postseason contender despite the loss. West Columbus closes its season with back-to-back victories, while East Columbus will look to build on its young core heading into next year.
Columbus County football once again demonstrated its strength and competitiveness, with two teams finishing the regular season with winning records and another ending the year with significant momentum heading into the offseason.
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