One of the more exciting week one football games in Southeast Iowa took place in Wayland last Friday. Trailing the Warriors 32-21 with under seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Columbus senior Mauricio Ramirez helped lead the Wildcats to a 43-38 victory with a pair of 65-yard touchdowns.

His 65 yard touchdown run with 6:45 remaining in the game coupled with a two-point conversion helped cut the deficit to three, 32-29. After recovering the ensuing onside kick, the Wildcats took the lead on a five-yard touchdown run by quarterback Carter Colby to give Columbus a 36-32 lead with 4:29 remaining. The next offensive possession saw WACO drain three minutes off the clock, regaining the advatage on a one-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jackson Roth for a 38-36 lead with 57 seconds remaining.

The ensuing possession saw the Wildcats start their offensive push at their own 32 yard line, needing a field goal to win the game. In an attempt to move the ball quickly, the Wildcats motioned Ramirez out as a receiver and sent him on a fly route. Colby put the ball in his hands and Ramirez scampered 65 yards to put the Wildcats ahead 43-38 with 22 seconds remaining. A last second pass by the Warriors was picked off by Colby, giving Columbus the victory.

Ramirez was proud at how the team persevered throughout the game. “Most times in the past we would have hung our heads and gave up but not this year, there is something different about the team for sure. It shows character and I am proud of my team for that.”

You can hear an interview with Ramirez about the Wildcats’ comeback win over WACO on the PM Sports Page tonight at 6 p.m. on KCII.