The Columbia High School football team dropped a 30-17 contest at Cahokia in a first round Class 4A playoff matchup Friday night at Cahokia High School.

The Eagles (6-4) recovered an onside kick to start the game, getting a 27-yard field goal by Keegan Thompson to take a 3-0 lead with six minutes left in the opening quarter. 

Columbia was patient with its possessions, milking as much of the play clock as possible in an attempt to keep the ball out of the hands of Cahokia’s potent offense.

Cahokia (8-2) marched right down the field in its opening possession, ending with a short touchdown run by quarterback Zion Taylor. The two-point try failed however, so Cahokia was up 6-3 at 3:51 of the first quarter. 

Columbia answered with solid runs by running back Jase Nelson and quarterback Mason Voegele. Nelson ended up running it in from seven yards out to make it a 10-6 lead for the Eagles at 10:19 of the second quarter. 

The ensuing kickoff, however, was returned by Cahokia’s Omar Mims Jr. for a 77-yard TD just seconds later. This time, Cahokia converted the two-point try. 

The Comanches added to their lead to close out the first half, getting a big run and a long pass plus a roughing penalty along the way. It was 22-10 Cahokia at halftime. 

Cahokia got a 13-yard TD pass to open the fourth quarter to go up 30-10. 

The Eagles mustered one last scoring drive midway through the final frame. 

Following a long kickoff return by Logan Hicks, Voegele threw a 22-yard TD pass to Hudson Bryant with 6:29 left to make it a 30-17 contest. 

An onside kick by Columbia was recovered by Cahokia. The Comanches wound up punting, but the Eagles were unable to work up some late game magic. 

Nelson finished with 87 yards rushing on the night. 

Voegele threw for 75 yards and ran for 69 yards. 

With the win, Cahokia travels this Saturday to Waterloo in a second round Class 4A playoff contest.

“I was very happy with our performance against a team that was extremely quick and talented,” Columbia head coach Scott Horner said after the game. “Our kids did not back down and played ‘til the end.  They should be proud.”

As for the season as a whole, Horner stressed the commitment by his players to improve personally and as a team from last year’s 2-7 showing.

“Our players put a lot of time in during the offseason, and it showed throughout the year,” Horner said. “They made a commitment to get better, and they certainly did.”

Playing their final games as Eagles were seniors Voegele, Hicks, Bryant, Logan Acevedo, Carson Campbell, Hayden Hubbard, Cam Janik and Aaron Pool.

“Our seniors led us throughout the year with their attitude and effort, and they should be very proud of what they accomplished,” Horner said.

Voegele threw for 983 yards this season with nine TD passes and seven interceptions in addition to rushing for 511 yards and five TDs.

Returning next season will be Nelson, a junior who rushed for 865 yards and scored 10 total TDs this fall.

See photos from the game by clicking here.