FORT LAUDERDALE – A close game from start to finish ended with what will be remembered as the Columbus Special.
Down 13-10 in overtime, it took a couple of plays for Columbus (Miami) to secure the Class 4M state title and wrap up the state’s 2022 season in dramatic fashion.
Apopka, which had a potential game-winning field goal blocked at the end of regulation, was caught with a surprise it will never forget.
Columbus junior quarterback Alberto Mendoza got himself wide open and caught the game-winning pass from senior wide receiver A.J. Arellano, who also can play the quarterback position at times. It could not have come at a better time, as Mendoza was found to be all alone in the end zone for the 16-13 win.
As a result, Columbus (14-1 final record) has won its second state title over Apopka (11-4 final record).
“We practiced it all week,” Mendoza said. “If it came to one play, that’s the play we were going to run. We called timeout just to give everything up, and that’s what we ran. We had all week to practice it and practice it. We knew that was the play.”
Mendoza also accounted for a passing score, which came during the first half for Columbus. He heaved a 50-yard touchdown throw to wide receiver Jose Leon, who skated past an Apopka defender on his way to the end zone.
The Mendoza-Leon connection helped to get Columbus a 7-0 lead.
And to conclude the first half, both teams traded field goals to make it 10-3 in favor of Columbus.
After a halftime weather delay, the game got going in the third quarter. No notable action on offense took place, as both teams punted multiple times throughout that frame.
But the fourth quarter was different, as Apopka woke up and took the game by its horns in a sense.
One name to remember is Tyson Davison. The Apopka freshman quarterback was electric on the field, as evidenced by his 47-yard run for a touchdown on fourth down with 4:44 left.
Davison, who had multiple big runs on the critical scoring drive, helped his team earn a 10-10 tie at that point.
And then the Apopka defense came through by making some key stops to thwart any progress that Columbus was hoping for. It got the Blue Darters the ball back to potentially close this one out.
But in the end, as Apopka was set to pull off a shocking upset win over one of the nation’s best teams, Columbus had other plans by forcing the game to go into overtime.
From there, Columbus limited Apopka to a field goal in overtime and went for the special to seal the deal.
“It feels great,” Mendoza said. “Columbus is a program. It’s not just a football team. Every single year, we’re competing for a state championship. Coach [Dave] Dunn is the best coach I’ve ever had. He’s a great mentor and cares about his players so much.”
SIDE NOTES: The other Columbus state title win came in 2019, when it took down Apopka in a 21-20 thriller in Daytona Beach.
Columbus sophomore linebacker Hector Chavez led all defenders with 20 in the Class 4M state title game.
PHOTO CREDITS: Chuck Bethel
VIDEO CREDITS: Kenly Napoleon
