Columbia HS football team falls to Morristown and former head coach John Power

MAPLEWOOD, NJ – The Columbia High School varsity football team looked across the field and saw its former head coach on the opponent’s sideline.

John Power, who coached the Cougars for the past two years, is the head coach for Morristown HS, the team Columbia hosted on Friday night, Sept. 30 under soggy conditions. The Cougars’ head coach is Gary Mobley.

In a back-and-forth affair, the Cougars had the lead twice, but couldn’t hold on and lost, 36-26, at Lynn V. Profeta Field/Underhill Field Complex.

The Cougars dropped their second straight to move to a 1-3 record. Morristown won its first of the season to go to 1-3.

The Cougars jumped out to a 12-0 lead. CHS sophomore quarterback Luke Hayes scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter to give the Cougars a 6-0 lead. The point-after kick failed.

On the drive, senior running back Kiambu Jones ran for 60 yards on seven carries, but injured his knee after a 10-yard run to the Morristown 2-yard line. Jones left the game after that play and did not return.

Hayes connected with senior Orterro Felton on a 51-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter to make it 12-0. The point-after kick was missed.

Morristown answered with two touchdowns. Jake Buchner scored on a 2-yard run and Jhamil King had a 13-yard TD run for a 14-12 halftime lead. Ryan Devaney kicked the extra points.

In the third quarter, senior C.J. Nwanonyiri ran for a 5-yard touchdown to put the Cougars ahead, 18-14. The two-point conversion pass failed.

But Morristown regained control. Buchner had a 1-yard touchdown run to give Morristown a 20-18 lead. The two-point conversion pass failed. Morristown recorded a safety after the ball went out of the end zone to make it 22-18 at the end of the third quarter.

King had a 23-yard touchdown run and Buchner scored on a 9-yard run, with Devaney kicking the extra points, to increase it to 36-18.

The Cougars stopped the momentum when Felton scored on a 56-yard run and Hayes ran in the two-point conversion to produce the final margin.

Next game: The Cougars will visit Livingston on Friday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m.