The Columbus Community Wildcats pulled away for good in the second half and got their first playoff victory in a decade and a half with a 62-14 win over Maquoketa Valley Friday night to open up the A football state postseason. The game was relatively competitive for a half, with Columbus up 14-6 after a quarter of play and leading 28-14 at halftime. But 34 unanswered second-half points would be more than enough, as the Wildcats roared to life to win a playoff game for the first time since 1997.

Columbus again leaned on its outstanding running game. Junior Kaden Amigon looked unstoppable again, rushing for 246 yards and four touchdowns on 20 carries, his sixth game with at least 200 yards on the ground. Senior Triston Miller and sophomore Riley Kaalberg also ran for one TD each and combined for 188 yards. All six Wildcats who touched the ball on offense ran for a score, part of a whopping 561 yards Columbus piled up while running the rock.

On defense, the Wildcats allowed just 277 yards to Maquoketa Valley and got one takeaway on an interception by senior Jeff Hoback. Junior Trenton Hoback led the team with nine-and-a-half tackles as 10th-ranked Columbus Community improves to 8-1. The Wildcats now face their toughest challenge of the season, as they will travel to take on unbeaten and number-two Grundy Center in the second round of the A playoffs.