VENICE (SNN-TV) – This Friday someone’s ticket will be punched to the 8A State Championship game in Fort Lauderdale, as the Venice Indians and Columbus Explorers clash in the semifinal in Venice.
The Indians enter this game coming off a 49-7 regional final win over West Orange last week, and Columbus does the same after defeating Miami Palmetto, 22-14.
The Explorers have rattled off 8 straight wins, since their September 24th loss to Miami Palmetto, including 3 straight road playoff wins to get to this point.
Columbus is led by multiple stars on defense including sophomore Daylen Russell and senior John Starman.
The Explorers enter Friday’s match-up knowing thy’re the underdog against the top 8A team in the state, in the Venice Indians.
Columbus head coach Dave Dunn, analyzes the Indians as a team that does a lot of things right. Things that he currently is working with his squad on improving. “They’re a very well-coached football team. They play extremely hard, they’re never out of position. (They’re) kind of all the things we’re trying to be right now, with a younger team. We had a very veteran team in 2019 and 2020, and that’s why we had the success we did those two years. We’re a little bit younger on offense, but we look at them (Venice) and it’s like looking at ourselves. They’re a tough, physical football team.”
Kickoff for this 8A State semifinal match up is set for Friday at 7:30pm from Powell-Davis Stadium in Venice.
