If Roxana was feeling good fresh off their 40-13 takedown of Civic Memorial last Friday, their most recent game may have dampened their spirits a bit. The Shells took a 34-29 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Columbia Eagles on Friday. Despite 64 more yards than the Eagles, the Shells couldn't convert that extra yardage to scores.
Despite the defeat, Roxana saw an underclassman step up: sophomore Mekhi Shorter rushed for 121 yards and a pair of touchdowns on only 15 carries. Shorter really tore up the turf during one magnificent 72-yard run.
Don't try to pin the team's loss on the defense: they kept the trenches locked down and allowed a mere 2.8 yards per carry. While one picked up at least eight total tackles, Max Autery stood above the rest. He made eight total tackles and snagged an interception. Roxana didn't have any issues in that department, having averaged 7.3.
Columbia's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Xavier Voegele, who threw for 194 yards and three TDs on only 16 passes. What's more, Voegele racked up six rushing yards, the most he's had since back in October of 2024. Columbia also got a significant boost from Jase Nelson, who ran away from the competition to the tune of 99 yards.
Roxana's loss dropped their record down to 3-1. As for Columbia, the victory keeps them at an undefeated 4-0.
Both teams will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. Roxana will take on Salem at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. The Wildcats will aim to continue their three-game streak of scoring more points each contest than the last. As for Columbia, they will venture away from home to face off against Freeburg at 7:00 p.m. on Friday.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
