Columbia’s football season started about as well as coach Scott Horner could have planned. The team earned a 49-0 home win against Wood River and everyone got involved.

“Regardless of what the number on the board says, what you look for is to come out, play a solid game, mistake-free football and execute,” Horner said. “I felt like we did that and we did it early. Offensively, we got in the endzone early. After the kids settled in after the first few plays we ran, they did exactly what we asked them to do.”

Eagles running back Kenny Fields started the game on the right note, scoring Columbia’s first two touchdowns from 15 and 14 yards out. Fields rushed the ball seven times for 85 yards.

In the second quarter, four different players scored touchdowns.

Quarterback Drew Huebner connected with Jordan Holmes on a 19-yard TD pass. Connor Little ran nine yards to the house. Colton Byrd found the endzone on a 17-yard run. Dylan Freiburghaus then squeezed past the goal line on a one-yard rush.

Just like that, the Eagles soared into halftime with a 42-0 lead.

The running game continued into the third quarter. Greg Long scampered into the end zone with three minutes and 32 seconds left in the third. Long ran for a team-high 123 yards on five carries.

Overall, the Eagles ran the ball 30 times for 284 yards. The offensive line may have had something to do with that.

“I think you saw it. They controlled the line of scrimmage from the beginning and anytime you can do that, it’s big,” Horner said.

“We have quality running backs. Not taking away anything from our guys, but anytime your lineman gives holes like they’re giving, I could run through some of those, I think. They did an awesome job and they’re going to have to keep doing that to be successful.”

They also gave Huebner enough time to pass the ball. He was 6-for-7 passing with 72 yards and a TD.

Columbia’s defense also showed up. They held Wood River to 110 total yards.

Jarett Allscheid led the team with nine tackles, all solo. David Boxwell had five total tackles, two solo. Owen Suedkamp had four tackles, also with two solo. Bryant Goacher recorded the Eagles’ only sack.

The win marked Horner’s 100th career victory as a head coach.

“All it means to me is that I’ve been fortunate to coach a lot of good football players,” Horner said. “I have a great staff, you don’t do these things alone. It goes on my tally sheet, but ultimately its for Columbia High School and for all the players that have played here before and all the ones that will play here with my coaching staff. I ask a lot out of them and they give me it all 100 percent of the time.”

Columbia now travels down Route 3 to play rival Waterloo at 7 p.m. Friday.

“It’s going to be a good game, it always is and it doesn’t matter what the records are, it doesn’t matter who wins or who loses… it’s going to be a dog fight until the end,” Horner said.

Dupo loses
In other Cahokia Conference action, Dupo lost its season opener at home to Sparta, 45-12.

“I was really proud of the guys’ first half,” head coach Brad Weier said. “They played their hearts out.”

After trailing 6-0 in the first quarter, Dupo responded quickly in the second.

Twelve seconds into the quarter, Adam Nichols scored on a 53-yard run to tie the game.

But Sparta’s offense overpowered Dupo’s depth for the rest of the game.

“Our depth definitely showed,” Weier said. “A couple guys had minor injuries, but we had to take them out. After that, the depth showed.”

Sparta scored two more touchdowns in the second to take a 20-6 halftime lead. They scored three more times before Dupo got back on the board.

In the fourth quarter, Drake Harvell threw a 12-yard pass to Brandon Roth for a touchdown.

“We can compete with that team, but we can’t have six turnovers to their one,” Weier said.

Overall, Dupo rushed for 227 yards and threw for 101 more. It was the six turnovers that hurt them.

Dupo travels to Breese Central on Friday.

“We have to protect the ball,” Weier said. “We can’t have one turnover next week and expect to beat Breese.”