Columbia HS football team gears up for state section playoffs

Columbia’s Stephen Henry looks to find a hole while carrying the ball during action against Bloomfield. Henry scored both of the Cougars’ touchdowns in the game.

MAPLEWOOD/SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The Columbia High School football team has earned a postseason berth.

The Cougars, under head coach Gary Mobley, are seeded seventh in the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 1, Group 5, state playoffs and will visit No. 2 seed Ridgewood in the quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 5, at 6:30 p.m. It marks the Cougars’ first state sectional playoff berth since 2016, Mobley’s first year at the helm.

The Cougars had their two-game winning streak snapped with a tough 7-0 loss to Passaic County Tech on Friday night, Oct. 29, at Lynn V. Profeta Field/Underhill Field Complex. CHS moved to a 5-4 record on the season.

The following are the North 1, Group 5, playoff matchups:

  • No. 8 seed Elizabeth at No. 1 seed East Orange Campus.
  • No. 5 seed Westfield at No. 4 seed West Orange.
  • No. 6 seed Montclair at No. 3 seed Passaic County Tech.
  • No. 7 seed Columbia at No. 2 seed Ridgewood.

The following are season records:

  • East Orange Campus, 8-0. 
  • Elizabeth, 3-6. 
  • Westfield, 3-5. 
  • West Orange, 6-3. 
  • Montclair, 5-4. 
  • Passaic County Tech, 6-3. 
  • Columbia, 5-4. 
  • Ridgewood, 6-2.

Photo Courtesy of Jerry Simon