By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Columbus coach Dan Grundy expects to see a lot of running tonight from Louisburg.
“They run the ball very well,” Grundy said of the Wildcats. “They’ll try to pound you.
“Traditionally, they don’t make mistakes in the playoffs, either,” Grundy said.
Said Louisburg coach Gary Griffin: “We’re mostly a running team. We can throw the ball, too. But the last two weeks haven’t been conducive for throwing the ball.”
Columbus (8-2) visits Louisburg (9-1), which has lost only to Class 5A Gardner-Edgerton, in the second round of the Kansas Class 4A playoffs at 7 p.m.
The task obviously for the Titans includes slowing down the Louisburg running game.
Tailback Ryan Roberts, a senior, has rushed for some 800 yards out of the I formation for the Wildcats. Quarterback Drew Harding, another senior, has added an estimated 550.
Sophomore fullback Garrett Griffin (coach Griffin’s son) has gained 500 on the ground. Junior Alex Genges has contributed 350.
“We don’t see their style,” coach Griffin said of the Titans. “They spread you out and run some zone stuff.”
Columbus quarterback Damion Tinnin has completed 128 of 221 passes for 2,139 yards and 25 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. His receiving leaders are fellow seniors Matt Crain (41 receptions for 808 yards), Dale Benedict (39-629) and Lewis Kellogg (27-301).
Kellogg also has rushed 142 times for 1,000 yards. Benedict and Wade Robinson have added 524 and 353 on 84 and 41 carries, respectively.
Griffin, a graduate of Frankfort High School and Kansas State, is in his eighth season as the Louisburg head coach. The Wildcats lost in the third round last season and lost 31-14 to Andale in the 2007 finals in a clash of unbeatens
“Their quarterback (Tinnin) throws the ball well,” coach Griffin said. “They have good receivers and good running backs. That nose guard is a stud. Columbus (which lost to Paola in the second round in 2008) is a solid team.”
The nose guard is 6-foot-2, 270-pound senior Tank Burns.
Linebacker Chase Leonard, a 5-11, 205 junior, leads the Titans in tackles with 107 and also has 3.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. Burns has 63 tackles and 5.5 sacks. Secondary member Tinnin has four picks.
Said Grundy: “There’s no secret to what we’ll do. We’ll try to attack them on the ground and through the air. We want to come out and be aggressive and physical. Hopefully, we can take advantage of what they give us.
“Louisburg, which has good size up front, is a very good, true team,” Grundy said. “They are very balanced. There isn’t one guy that we have to stop.”
Columbus, if it wins, needs Bishop Miege to beat Holton to give the Titans a home game on Friday night.
