Columbus outclasses Deerfield Beach in 8A

Columbus running back Henry Parrish carried 25 times for 177 yards and three touchdowns as the Explorers capitalized on three turnovers and costly penalties to pull out a 49-21 win over host Deerfield Beach in the Class 8A state semifinal late Friday night.

Parrish’s final score, a game-sealing 61-yard run with 2:08 remaining in the game sent Columbus to the state championship game on Dec. 8 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando where they will play Mandarin, a 45-31 winner over Sarasota Riverview.

Deerfield Beach proved to be a gracious host in the first half with seven penalties and two turnovers as Miami Columbus turned that into a 28-7 lead and the Bucks were unable to recover.

Columbus’ Brandon McDuffey threw two touchdowns, while Parrish ran for one score and Elias Morales returned a Derohn King interception 42 yards for a touchdown to give the Explorers (14-0) the early advantage. King’s second pick-6, a 20-yard return by Kalani Norris with 5:52 iced the game at 42-21.

“We fought,” said Deerfield Beach coach Jevon Glenn. “What people have to understand is we have a young team and we have to learn from this as we carry this into the offseason. I am proud of my team and my seniors that gave everything they have for four years.

“We did everything you can not do when you are trying to win a ball game,” said Glenn, whose team was penalized 16 times for 93 yards and had four costly dropped passes, including two sure touchdowns. The Bucks also had a TD whistled back on a penalty.

Columbus hit double digits for the 24th straight playoff game and scored on their first three possessions of the game.

“I mean just the miscues, the lack of focus,” Glenn lamented, “I don’t want to take anything away from Columbus, they capitalized on our miscues and our letdowns. A lot of them weren’t given away, they were forced. They are a helluva football team and I am hoping they go up there, represent South Florida and bring that title back.”

Deerfield Beach (12-2) saw its sixgame winning streak come to an end with the loss. The other setback was a 38-6 loss to St. Thomas Aquinas.

King finished 14 of 34 for 193 yards passing and three interceptions while running back Jaylan Knighton, who entered the game with 2,045 yards rushing and 28 scores, was held to just 44 yards rushing. It equaled his season low which came against Aquinas.

Deerfield fell to 1-7 in state semifinal games with the defeat. The lone win came in 2005 when they reached the state final and lost to Palm Beach Gardens, 49-29 at Dolphin Stadium, now known as Hard Rock Stadium.