Westwood’s Historic Season Ends with Tough Loss to Columbus
The Westwood Panthers’ record-breaking football season came to a bittersweet conclusion Friday night at Tigerland Stadium with a 48-28 loss to the No. 4-ranked Columbus Cardinals in the regional playoffs. Despite the defeat, the Panthers’ remarkable 11-1 campaign will be remembered as the greatest in the program’s 65-year history.
A Clash of High-Powered Offenses
Both teams entered the game with reputations for explosive offenses, but it was Columbus that lived up to the hype. Led by TCU-committed quarterback Adam Schobel and standout running back Grayson Rigdon, the Cardinals struck early and often, leaving Westwood struggling to find its rhythm for much of the game.
Columbus opened with a methodical eight-play, 51-yard drive capped by Rigdon’s one-yard touchdown run, the first of his five rushing scores. Although the Cardinals missed the extra point, they quickly set the tone with a 6-0 lead.
Westwood responded with an impressive 91-yard drive, as quarterback Kavian Bryant connected with Kasyn Dial for a six-yard touchdown. Aiden Mendez’s extra point gave the Panthers their only lead of the game, 7-6, with just over four minutes left in the first quarter.
Columbus Dominates the First Half
The Cardinals seized control for the remainder of the first half, scoring touchdowns on their next four possessions while Westwood stumbled with turnovers and stalled drives. By halftime, Columbus had built a commanding 34-7 lead, leaving the Panthers in an unfamiliar position: trailing and facing elimination.
A Determined Second-Half Effort
Westwood emerged from halftime with urgency and resolve. A methodical 11-play, 75-yard drive culminated in a three-yard touchdown run by Jon Denman, cutting the Columbus lead to 34-14. Denman, a TCU commit, capped his stellar season with 95 rushing yards, setting a new school record of 1,819 yards for the year.
However, Columbus quickly countered with a 10-play, 57-yard drive of their own, extending their lead to 41-14. Another touchdown early in the fourth quarter effectively sealed the game, putting the Cardinals ahead 48-14.
Westwood’s Fighting Spirit
Despite the daunting deficit, the Panthers refused to quit. Bryant scrambled for a 10-yard touchdown, and later connected with Dial on a 39-yard scoring strike for their final points of the season. Mendez, as reliable as ever, converted both extra points, finishing the year an outstanding 87-for-89.
