Payne-full night for the Falcons
Columbia 14
A.C. Flora 7
Story and photos
by Mike Maddock
Mike@TheColumbiaStar.com

Columbia's Lorenzo Boyles (35), Shaquell Hilton (34), and Tyreese Coaxum converge on A.C. Flora's Edmund Cassanova.

Quarterback Justin Payne scored two touchdowns in the second half to help spoil the season opener for the A.C. Flora Falcons Friday, August 25, 2006, at Memorial Stadium leading the Columbia High Capitals to a 14-7 victory.

The Falcons struck first when running back Carlos McCoy scooted up the middle for seven yards and an A.C. Flora touchdown with 41 seconds left in the first half. The 80-yard scoring drive started with five straight runs, including 15 hard-earned yards from Conor Hozey. Quarterback Sims Tompkins also found Mo Holler twice for completions of 21 and 11 yards.

The Capitals started the game slow and appeared to start the second half the same way when their first play at the 8:59 mark was a Chris Payne run for no gain. After that, Cedric Jeffcoat awakened the Columbia High rushing attack that has become a staple of Coach Kemper Amick's offense. Jeffcoat rushed three straight times, including a 42-yard run that moved the Capitals to the Falcon 14-yard line. A play later, Justin Payne scrambled the final 14 yards and dove into the right corner of the end zone for a touchdown. The extra point was missed.

Justin Payne scored twice for the Capitals with runs of 14 and 34 yards. He had 59 yards rushing and 26 yards passing. Cedric Jeffcoat and Chris Payne added 148 and 59 yards rushing respectively.

After an A.C. Flora errant field goal attempt, the Capitals found themselves with a second and 17 from their own 13-yard line. Chris Payne then scampered 17 yards for a first down, and the march was on. Again Amick turned to his powerful ground game. Jeffcoat, Chris Payne, and Taylor got the Capitals to the Falcon 34- yard line, and then Justin Payne broke loose and found the end zone once more. Amick saved one pass for a bit of trickery on a successful two-point conversion play. Justin Payne lined up in the shotgun formation in the middle of the field with his center while the rest of the offensive line set-up on the left side of the hash mark with receiver Richard Butler on the right side. Payne took the snap, rolled to his right, and found a wide-open Butler in the end zone.

A.C. Flora's Mo Holler had five receptions for 54 yards on offense, and eight tackles, two pass break-ups, and two big hits on defense.

The Falcons' best chance to score came with 3:56 remaining in the third quarter. They recovered a Columbia fumbled punt reception at the Capitals' 35-yard line and drove down the field to the seven-yard line but could get no further. Coach Robin Bacon's team settled for a field goal attempt that sailed left. The Falcons hurt themselves with unforced errors, penalties, and turnovers all night.

Things could have been worse. The Capitals drove to the Falcon nine- yard line with a little over a minute remaining in the game, but Amick had Payne take a knee to run out the clock.

The Class 2A Capitals improve to 2-0 and will venture into Region III, 3A again next week when they host Dreher. The Falcons fall to 0-1 and will host Mid-Carolina in a Thursday night game on August 31.