The Columbus Wildcat football team opened a new year Friday night with a neutral site game at Muscatine Community Stadium against the BGM Bears. After a tight first half, BGM pulled away in the second for the 47-14 victory.
The first 13 points belonged to BGM as they took the opening possession on a six play 51-yard march, the final 34 on a touchdown throw from quarterback Beau Burns, who led 8-man football in passing touchdowns and yards a year ago, to Nathan Findlay. After seven changes of possession, that included the game’s first turnover when Columbus corner Lamar Ceant skied to claim a pick, Burns found the end zone with his legs, finishing a two-play 50 yard drive with a 24 yard touchdown. The Columbus offense came to life on the next drive, as they went 50 yards on a pair of plays, the final 47 when Angel Ineichen cut through the backdoor and raced to the house to make it 13-7 Bears. The counter punches continued as the Bears went up 19-7 next trip on a three-play 80-yard drive, the final 23 with Burn’s legs. Columbus turned to Ineichen again, behind his o-line of Dante Zuniga, Antelmo Amigon, Drew Totemeier, Fritz Figaro and Ronaldo Villegas, Columbus steamrolled 66-yards and 10 plays, the last eight from Kaalberg to make it 19-14. That’s where things would stay to intermission, despite Burns putting the ball on the turf in the final two minutes and a Columbus recovery for their second takeaway.
Out of the locker room Columbus moved the ball 38 yards on nine plays but were unable to draw closer or take the lead. From then on, Beau Burns, took over. While the Wildcats would see their final four drives of the night end with a trio of three and outs and a Burns interception, the Bears got four straight touchdown runs from Burns. The dynamic BGM signal caller sprinted 78, 53, 16 and 13 yards on second half scoring runs to put the game out of reach. Following the contest Columbus head coach Dave Lekwa spoke with KCII sports about his team’s fight and big second quarter, and the talented team they faced. Lekwa said, “I thought we did a good job responding early on and moving the football. We found a couple of looks that were really working behind the line. Ronnie Villegas and Fritz Figaro did a heck of a job, they sprung that first touchdown. I thought Trevor (Phillips) did a nice job throwing the ball. Lamar (Ceant) and Tyson (Kaalberg) and Elliot (Wessley) all caught the ball tonight. Coming out of halftime, we got the ball and weren’t able to do much with it. Then they come back and score, and we just ran out of gas. Their quarterback is dynamic. He’s a great player. They’ve got good athletes at their skill positions, they spread you out, and their line was impressive.”
Unofficially, the Bears outgained Columbus 636 to 235 in total yards, including 282-53 in the second half. The Wildcats won turnovers 2-1. Burns finished with 545 all-purpose yards, and six total touchdowns, 427 on the ground on 30 carries and five scores. He was seven of 13 throwing for a score a pick and 118 yards. Wildcat leaders included Ineichen with his pair of rushing touchdowns on 18 touches. Phillips was 12 of 20 throwing for 87 yards and an interception. Ceant caught seven passes for 62 yards. Columbus is 0-1 and gets set to meet Van Buren next Friday.