Columbus’ season ends with loss to Maquoketa Valley

COLUMBUS — Columbus football’s season came to a close last Friday in the opening round of the class A playoffs.

The Wildcats were defeated 57-21 by Maquoketa Valley at home.

Both squads got their offenses going early, but it was Maquoketa Valley who held the edge.

Columbus scored a pair of touchdowns in the first quarter, but Maquoketa Valley just edged the Wildcats with 16 of its own.

From that point on it was all Maquoketa Valley.

The Wildcats in black and yellow shutout Columbus in the second quarter, while tacking on another two touchdowns to make it 28-14 at the half.

The scoring onslaught continued through the third, as Maquoketa took full control of the game with 21 points in the third.

Columbus scored one themselves in the third, but it wouldn’t make a difference and Maquoketa Valley led 49-21 heading into the fourth.

In the fourth, Maquoketa Valley only added more to its total, scoring 13 unanswered.

Columbus got another big performance from running back Kaden Amigon as he rushed for 262 yards and three touchdowns.

Russell Coil had a big night defensively as well, tallying 11 tackles, two for a loss and one sack.

But the Wildcats surrendered 618 yards on the night.

With the loss, the 2023 ends for Columbus with a record of 6-3.

The Wildcats say goodbye to seniors Amigon, Coil, Cael Phillips, Cole Storm, Leo Lara and Luis Cruz.