The Columbia Raiders have picked up right where they left off last season with two nonconference wins over Independence and Fairview to start 2-0.
Even with a good record, sometimes you have to fight through adversity. It was a week full of it for Columbia, as the Raiders had some bumps and bruises to get through after the win over Independence in the opening game. The weather was also a big factor for every team in The Morning Journal coverage area with the storms and lightning that affected practice.
The crazy week wasn’t over just yet for the Raiders, as the game itself against Fairview on Aug. 25 was a big challenge. The Warriors made things difficult for Columbia, and they were the better team for most of the first half.
The Raiders fumbled twice, had multiple costly penalties and found themselves trailing, 7-0, in the second quarter.
“(It’s about) that whole ‘next play, best play’ mentality,” Columbia coach Jason Ward said. “We had a couple of untimely pass interference calls, a couple of unsportsmanlike conduct calls. It felt like the wheels were coming off there a little bit. I called a timeout to try and rally the guys, and they ended scoring on that drive anyways.
“Sometimes a message can still get across. We can’t dwell on those things. We need to shake it off and step up, which is one of our mantras at Columbia. I thought our guys did a nice job of that.”
After both teams traded punts to start the game, Columbia running back Marco Cirigliano fumbled right at the goal line on a play that was very close to a touchdown. Fairview scored on the next drive aided by a couple of Columbia penalties. On the Raiders’ next possession, quarterback Ethan Meier fumbled inside of the Fairview 30-yard line. The Warriors had all of the momentum.
“We had a couple of turnovers at the beginning of the game that were unfortunate,” Meier said. “My fumble is on me, but my teammates had my back. I kept my head straight, and we got the job done.”
Columbia’s defense was able to step up with a stop, and Meier threw a touchdown pass to Danny Corrigan to even the score. Fairview has some juice with its passing game, and quarterback Burke Lowry was doing a nice job running the two-minute offense late in the half.
However, Meier was able to make the two biggest plays of the game on defense with two consecutive pick-sixes on the final possessions to close out the half. Columbia hadn’t even played very well, but led, 21-7, at the break.
“Then you get into the game, and you think you have a sure touchdown down there to get it going, but I was guess it wasn’t,” Ward said. “There was a lot going on, but sometimes it takes one special individual effort. We got that out of Ethan Meier tonight, I’ve never seen two pick-sixes in a game, let alone that long. That was pretty cool.”
Even when Fairview ran the opening play of the second half for an 85-yard touchdown, Columbia didn’t flinch. Cirigliano had a big second half to make up for his fumble, too, including returning the next kickoff for a touchdown to bring the Raiders’ lead back up to two touchdowns.
The Warriors kept coming with touchdowns in the second half, but Columbia had answers. Meier threw his second touchdown pass to Jacob Sanders, and Cirigliano punched in a rushing touchdown. In a 14-point game, Meier’s two defensive touchdowns were what Columbia needed to get over the hump.
The game ended up closer than Columbia probably would’ve liked, but adversity like this could be helpful for a team that has big goals again this season.
Meier and his teammates remembered the next play is the best play.
“When I was younger, I always got mad at myself and down on myself,” Meier said. “My coaches have been on me all year about keeping my head up. I’m the leader of the offense and the defense. I’m a middle linebacker. I just kept my head up and it’s next play, best play. It feels great.”
