Another one-point win over Breese Central gave Columbia its first win of the IHSA Class 4A state football playoffs on Saturday. The Eagles offense was able to run out the clock and celebrate a 21-20 win in victory formation.

“I was a little worried in the second half. It felt like (Central) controlled the game in the second half,” Columbia coach Scott Horner said. “We just couldn’t move the ball offensively. But like I told the kids after the game, I was proud of them for finding a way to get it done.”

The last time these two teams met during the regular season, Columbia edged out a 28-27 win. It was not too much of a difference in Saturday’s contest.

The Eagles started off the game with a two-play, 15-second scoring drive. Running back Chris Wagner ran 52 yards after the Eagles started off in good field position thanks to an onside kick attempt by Central to start the game. Kenny Fields ended the drive on the next play with a 1-yard run. After the Greg Long extra-point, the Eagles led 7-0.

Central put together a long, run-first drive that ended on Columbia’s 13-yard line. Jonathan Holmes recovered a fumble for the Eagles to end the drive with 6:45 left in the first quarter.

On the ensuing drive, Columbia quarterback Drew Huebner connected with Lamont Read for a 40-yard catch that set up a field goal try. But kick just missed, sailing just right of the goal post.

After a stop by the Columbia defense, the Eagles again drove the field on offense. Fields picked up a 21-yard run and Read had a 12-yard catch. The drive lasted into the second quarter, where it would stall. This time, though, instead of kicking a field goal, Columbia tried a fake. It didn’t work and Central took over on its own 20-yard line.

Columbia did get the ball back and scored again with just over a minute remaining in the half. Fields finished off a scoring drive with a 4-yard rush in the end zone for his second TD of the day. Columbia led 14-0 at halftime.

Central started off the second half with a long, 6:18 drive that resulted in a TD. They were down 14-7. Just 30 seconds later, the Cougars recovered a fumble. Central scored another TD with 1:30 to play in the third quarter and the game was tied 14-14.

But the Eagles answered quickly. Huebner found Read on a slant pass toward the Central sideline. Read turned up the field and scored a 53-yard TD to give Columbia a 21-14 lead late in the third quarter.

Central scored another rushing TD with 4:15 to play in the game. Instead of going for the tie, they went for the win on a two-point conversion. The try failed, and instead of the game being tied, Columbia still led 21-20.

Columbia then handed the ball to Fields multiple times, who ran out the clock and allowed the team to end the game in victory formation.

The Eagles improve to 10-0 on the season and will play at Breese Mater Dei in round two of the playoffs this Saturday, Nov. 7. Read more in this week’s newspaper.