Football Preview: Pope John Paul II Knights vs. Columbia Central Lions
The Pope John Paul II Knights will square off against the Columbia Central Lions at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Pope John Paul II has given up an average of 28.9 points per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Pope John Paul II is headed into the contest out to prove that what happened against Battle Ground Academy on Friday (when they were outscored in every quarter) was just a minor bump in the road. The Knights were outmatched by the Wildcats and fell 56-14. The Knights were in a tough position after the first half, with the score already sitting at 42-0.
Isaiah Batten
| 09/26/25 vs Father Ryan | 152.1 |
| 09/06/25 vs Columbia Academy | 143.4 |
| 08/22/25 @ Lakeway Christian Academy | 136.1 |
| 10/17/25 @ Battle Ground Academy | 118.9 |
| 09/12/25 @ Franklin Road Academy | 88 |
| + 3 more games |
The loss doesn't tell the whole story though, as several players had good games. One of the most active was Isaiah Batten, who threw for 177 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His passing game has become a key predictor of Pope John Paul II's success: the team is 3-1 when his passer rating is 100 or higher, but only 0-4 otherwise.
Pope John Paul II didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Sam Bowers and Josiah Bell.
Meanwhile, it may have taken overtime to finish the job, but Columbia Central ultimately got the result they hoped for on Friday. They slipped by Lincoln County 28-27. Give some credit to the fans of both teams: the last six times they've met, the home team has come away the winner.
Columbia Central found their leader in sophomore Jamari Brown, who picked up 87 receiving yards and one TD, and also rushed for 45 yards and one score. Brown showed off some serious burst, lighting up the secondary with a catch for 57 yards. Toriano Baldwin was in the mix too, providing Columbia Central with one touchdown.
Columbia Central's defense made their presence known, laying out the QB three times. Leading the way was Zane Nash with two sacks. Columbia Central received some extra help from Baldwin, whose fumble return for a touchdown made for one of the most unforgettable moments.
Columbia Central now has a winning record of 4-3. As for Pope John Paul II, they dropped their record down to 3-5 with the loss, which was their fourth straight on the road.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
