Columbus scored 34 unanswered points to rout Miami Palmetto 34-7 on Sept. 10 at Sam Burley Field at Southridge Park, the Miami Herald reported. The loss dropped the Panthers to 3-1 overall and 0-1 in District 16-6A, complicating their district title hopes and playoff positioning.

Panthers Strike First but Fade Fast

Palmetto struck first. Senior running back Aiden Butler broke loose for a 59-yard touchdown run on the Panthers' opening drive. It was the last time the Panthers found the end zone.

Columbus, ranked No. 7 nationally by MaxPreps, answered with 34 straight points. Northern Illinois commit Kai Moore tied the game with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Ahmad Summerall. University of Miami commit A'Mir Sears then hauled in a contested deep ball at the far sideline and raced 58 yards for the go-ahead score.

Third Quarter Explosion Seals the Rout

The third quarter buried Palmetto. Columbus piled on 27 points in the period, including a blocked punt by 6-foot-5 sophomore linebacker Sekou Toure that Rocco Callegari scooped and ran 6 yards into the end zone. Sears added a 3-yard rushing touchdown, and two bad Palmetto long snaps led to a pair of safeties.

Coach Points to Clean Execution as Key

"We didn't turn the ball over and we only punted once the whole game," Columbus coach Dave Dunn said after the win. "We just have to be cleaner with the penalties and better in the red zone." Columbus was flagged five times for holding.

Dunn said his defense played its best game of the season after a 34-27 loss to St. Thomas Aquinas.

Both Teams Look Ahead to District Play

Palmetto entered the game 3-0 and ranked No. 4 in the Herald's South Florida Top 20. Columbus (3-1, 1-0 in district) next plays at South Dade on Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m.