Xavier Collins called it his “money year.”
If so, it’s off to a rich start.
The rising junior quarterback threw for 156 yards and two touchdowns on 13-of-21 passing while also rushing for 58 yards and another score to lead Columbia to a 35-0 shutout over Fort White in the teams’ spring game at Tiger Stadium on Saturday night. The Tigers’ defense was just as good as the offense, forcing three turnovers that included a pick-6 while holding the Indians to just 22 total yards.
But all eyes were on Collins and he delivered, tossing touchdown passes to rising junior Kyren Caldwell and rising sophomore Kaidrin Jackson. In between those two scores he sandwiched 1-yard rushing touchdown to help the Tigers build a 28-0 lead by halftime.
It was a far cry from the teams’ spring matchup a year ago when Columbia squeaked out a 14-7 win.
“This spring game was definitely fun,” Collins said. “We were home, we had fans in the stands, and it was definitely better than last year. And I played a lot better.
“It’s my junior year, it’s my money year,” Collins added. “I’ve got to do it this year.”
Nearly the entire second half was played with a running clock, which was triggered when rising sophomore running back Jerome Horne rushed for a 17-yard touchdown with just under 10 minutes remaining in the third quarter. Horne finished with 115 yards on nine carries to complement Collins, who Columbia coach Brian Allen was thrilled with postgame.
“I saw Xavier grow up in a major way tonight,” Allen said. “And there’s still work that’s there. I saw him do some things with his legs that I hadn’t seen as much of in years past. But once he gets to understanding when he uses his legs and his eyes are down field, he’s going to have even more touchdowns than he had. He had some tonight that would’ve been six as he got out of the pocket.”
While the varsity offense scored on four of five drives in the first half, it was Columbia’s defense that started things off. After Fort White received the opening kickoff, CHS defensive back Julian De La Cruz jumped in front of a pass from FWHS quarterback Ethan Caines and returned it 20 yards for a pick-6 and a 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the contest.
It was one of two interceptions on the night for De La Cruz and three total for the CHS defense. Fleming Island transfer Tacori Allen also had pick.
“It started off really well,” De La Cruz said of his pick-6. “It started with my D-line getting pressure, forcing the quarterback to make a bad a decision.
“I saw nothing but the end zone. As soon as I (caught it), I was ready to go. I had to score. I saw nothing but green.”
Following a 3-and-out from the Fort White offense, Columbia’s offense went to work. Collins engineered a 7-play, 55-yard scoring drive that he ended with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Caldwell, who snagged it on a fade route in the back corner of the end zone.
Caldwell finished with three receptions for 43 yards.
“I’m going to throw it to him a lot this year,” Collins said. “A lot. He won that one. I’m going to throw it to him every time.”
Allen then picked off a pass from Fort White quarterback Jayden Jackson on the Indians’ next drive, winning a jump ball over receiver Edward Colter. It handed the ball back to the offense at FWHS 40-yard line and Collins led a 12-play drive for another score that saw him convert a 3rd-and-12 with an 18-yard run and later a 3rd-and-8 with a 16-yard completion to Kaidrin Jackson.
Then, after receiver Antonio Days came up a yard short of the end zone on 3rd-and-6, Allen called a QB draw and Collins walked into the end zone untouched to make it 21-0.
“I’ve got to use my legs more,” Collins said. “It’s my junior year. I’ve got to do more than I did last year.”
Collins’ only miscue of the game was an interception that was nabbed over the middle by Matthew Pitts. But De La Cruz gave him the ball right back two plays later when he picked off Jayden Jackson near midfield.
The Tigers scored six plays after that when Collins connected with Kaidrin Jackson for a 15-yard touchdown to make it 28-0 shortly before halftime. Jackson caught four passes for 50 yards on the night.
The starters got one more drive in the second half and it was all Horne, who took four carries a total of 80 yards, which included a 17-yard touchdown to trigger a clock running.
“I wanted to definitely feature him in the second half,” Allen said. “He’s a special kid.”
The defensive starters forced one final punt from there, in part thanks to a sack by linebacker Bryson Grinstead. Former Fort White defensive lineman Jaden McCray and Josiah Rossin also had sacks to help aid the shutout.
“Anytime you can get a shutout, it’s a big deal,” Allen said. “They’re hard and few between, so any time you get that you’re proud. Defense had a turnover and a score, so I’m proud of that. We checked off a ton of our goals. We held them under 100 yards so I’m extremely proud of those guys.”