Columbia HS football team gets first win of the season with victory over Snyder in finale

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JERSEY CITY, NJ – The Columbia High School varsity football had one more chance to get a win this season.

Led by a strong defense and a powerful ground performance from Krys Ward, the Cougars finally got to taste victory.

Ward, a senior, rushed for 160 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries to lead the Cougars to a hard-fought 13-6 win over Snyder on Saturday, Nov. 11, at Caven Point in Jersey City in a NJSIAA consolation game.

The Cougars, under second-year head coach Gary Mobley, finished the season at 1-9. They also snapped a 17-game losing streak that dated to last season when they also went 1-9. It was the Cougars’ first win since a 34-28 road victory over East Orange Campus in Week 2 of the 2016 season.

In the second quarter, Ward ran for a 4-yard TD to break a scoreless tie.

Juniors Luke Hayes and Trey Harris hooked up on a 40-yard TD pass play in the fourth quarter for the other Columbia score.

The Cougars’ defense shut out Snyder until the fourth quarter. Senior linebacker Cordel Provilon had 11 tackles and a sack, and senior defensive back Anthony Agu had an interception to lead Columbia.

The Cougars also nearly beat East Orange Campus this season at Underhill Field in Week 2, but came up short, 20-18.

Last season, the Cougars managed to earn a berth in the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2, Group 5 state playoffs, despite having just one win. Columbia, the eighth seed, lost at top-seeded Bridgewater-Raritan in the quarterfinals.