National wrap-up: Columbus (Fla.) snaps 5-game skid to Northwestern

Columbus (Miami, Fla.) High School's football team snapped a five-game losing streak to city power Northwestern (Miami), downing the Bulls in a convincing 29-8 victory Friday night.

The Explorers (6-0) took a 22-8 lead into the fourth quarter. A 25-yard touchdown run by talented sophomore Lorenzo Woodley iced it for Columbus, which improved to 6-0 and beat Northwestern for the first time since 2005.

It was the second consecutive loss for Northwestern (4-2), which suffered a 25-22 setback against Central last weekend.

According to the Miami Herald, Columbus prevailed despite missing two star players, running back Brandon Radcliff (knee injury) and wide receiver Tacoi Sumler (foot injury). Sumler played but was limited.

Colin Alford led the rushing attack with 19 carries for 97 yards and Woodley added 68 yards on seven carries, including a pair of touchdowns.

Quarterback Wes Keller was effective, hitting 9 of 13 for 108 yards and a TD pass to Jesus Wilson.

The Bulls (4-2) played much of the second half without Miami-bound quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (22 of 31, 197 yards, touchdown), who injured his left knee.

It was a sweet win for Columbus, which has been eliminated from the playoffs by Northwestern two of the last five seasons.

La Salle 31, Moeller 21

In one of Cincinnati's biggest games of the season, undefeated La Salle (Cincinnati, Ohio) kept up its winning ways by improving to 8-0 with a victory over Archbishop Moeller.

Rodriguez Coleman caught two touchdown passes to spark the Lancers, who have a chance to win their first-ever Greater Catholic League title.

Matt Farrell had a 30-yard touchdown grab to go along with 16-yard rushing score to bolster La Salle's offensive attack.

Having also defeated Lakota West and St. Xavier, La Salle appears to be a legitimate threat to contend for a Division I state title and push Colerain for Ohio's Region IV crown. Moeller dropped to 6-2.

No. 3 Grant (Sacramento, Calif.) 28, Monterey Trail (Elk Grove, Calif.) 22

According to the Sacramento Bee, Terry Shine, a first-year quarterback who was supposed to be the team's big question mark, once again bailed out the Pacers, completing a 22-yard touchdown pass to tight end Darryl Paulo with 48.9 seconds to go to pull out the victory.

Grant (7-0), despite sporting a roster with twice as many players (54-27), couldn't shake Monterey Trail all night and actually trailed 22-21 with 1:55 left following a Drake Tofi 35-yard touchdown run and Derek Bellamy two-point conversion.

But Shine led the team back down the field and had a sure 55-yard touchdown dropped before completing the game-winner to Paulo.

The Pacers received big efforts from junior running back Shaq Thompson, who was nursing a very sore angle and carried just six times for 175 yards and two touchdowns. Terrence Fang also had a huge game with a 65-yard TD run and key interception.

Tofi led Monterey Trail's ball-control offense with 154 yards rushing. Grant played most of the game without All-American safety James Sample, out with a shoulder injury.

No. 4 St. Thomas Aquinas 23, Miramar 7

Back in the Sunshine State, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), ranked No. 4 in the Xcellent 25 Rankings presented by the Army National Guard, held off defending 6A state champion Miramar (Fla.) 23-7.

Running backs Jamal Wilson and Dami Ayoola found in the endzone in the first half, as did quarterback Jacob Rudock, who scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak to help the Raiders open up a 20-7 halftime lead.

The second half featured only a field goal by Raiders Nolan Bieck, which extended Aquinas' lead to 23-7.

With the victory, Aquinas moves to 6-0 and is primed for another run at a 5A state title. Miramar dropped to 3-3.

Bishop Amat (La Puente, Calif.) 31, Crespi (Encino, Calif.) 28

According to the Los Angeles Times, Jalen Moore rushed 32 times for 263 yards and two scores in a tough Serra League opening-night victory.

It was the sixth straight game Moore broke the 100-yard barrier and his two 4-yard touchdown runs in the fourth quarter proved decisive. He now has 1,019 yards and 12 touchdowns on the season for the 7-0 Lancers.

Crespi (5-2) had taken a 21-17 lead in the third quarter behind Kenneth Stenhouse (23 of 35, 256 yards and three touchdowns) and wide receiver Christopher Harper (10 catches, 133 yards), fighting back from a 17-7 halftime deficit.

Harper's 5-yard TD catch with 1:55 left, cut the lead to 31-28 but Amat recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock.

Quarterback Rio Ruiz (1-yard TD run and 27-yard TD pass to Wallace Gonzalez) also played a key role for Bishop Amat.

Crespi's talented receiver Devin Lucien caught his 13th touchdown of the season in the first half.

The Lancers came out on fire in the third quarter on a 4-yard TD run by Terrence Williams and a 1-yard TD run from Stenhouse.

But in the fourth quarter it was all Moore and a big, physical offensive line.

"The offensive line bailed us out," Amat coach Steve Hagerty told Eric Sondheimer of the Los Angeles Times. "They push up front."

Coppell (Coppell, Texas) 35, Carroll (Southlake, Texas) 17

According to the Dallas Morning News, Cam McDaniel rushed 27 times for 175 yards and three touchdowns leading Coppell (7-0) to a decisive victory over perennial national power Carroll.

McDaniel and Coppell's big offensive front wore down Carroll as the running back rushed for touchdown runs of 28 and 30 yards in the second half. Coppell's defensive front also wore down Southlake's offene, sacking sophomore quarterback Kenny Hill six times.

Hill threw for 235 yards but 64 came on the final drive when the game was essentially over. Hill's favorite target was Peyton Williams, who had four catches for 124 yards including a 69-yard touchdown.

Coppel quarterback Joe Minden was 14 of 23 for 175 yards and teammate Bennett Okotcha added a 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Carroll fell to 5-2.