Columbia's playoff loss stings, but young Raiders look ahead

By Matt Lofgrenspecial to cleveland.comCOLUMBIA STATION, Ohio — Leading Hanoverton United 14-0 early in the second quarter with a third straight possession in the Golden Eagles’ red zone, everything was going Columbia’s way until it wasn’t.The Raiders, seeded third in Division VI, Region 21, suffered a pair of key injuries along the drive that changed the course of the game. “I thought we came out freaking firing on all cylinders at the beginning of the game,” Columbia head coach Mike Rice said, “and then really the game turned when we were going in for the third score to go up 21-nothing, and we had to have a few guys come off the field due to injury. The drive stalled, then they had seven breaks go their way on their first touchdown drive, and that’s kind of how the second half went as well.”Losing sophomore running back Peyton Liedtke, who is the lightning to junior Xavier Hendon’s thunder in the Raiders’ backfield, took away a key element from Rice’s offensive arsenal.“Not having Peyton Liedtke is a huge factor, and that’s why my heart breaks for him so much,” Rice said. “I would have liked to see what we could have done at full strength. I’m not taking anything away from what United did; that was a hell of a second half they had coming out, credit to them.”As bone-chilling rain fell, Columbia players and coaches absorbed a season-ending 21-14 defeat to United, Rice had to collect himself before he could speak to the season his team just had.Pacing around the well-kept natural grass field at Southwest General Stadium, Rice looked out along the fence that separates students and fans from the playing surface and saw plenty of light. Not only were the names of all five seniors on the team arranged into the fence with green lights to support the team, but Rice could see the light this senior class has given the Raiders’ program, even in the face of defeat.“We’re such a tight-knit group and community, and it’s hard watching them not get what they worked really hard to get,” Rice said. “I feel for them because we ask for them to do a lot and demand a lot from them, and they always answer that call from us.”Columbia playoff results under under Rice have been inconsistent in his three years at the helm of the program. After some playoff success in his first season, the last two years have ended in the team’s first postseason game while playing on home turf, including Friday night.The program now boasts a candidate for Ohio’s Mr. Football award (Hendon), but the Raiders are much more than one player. A talented roster with playmakers on both sides of the ball, the Raiders are what most teams yearn to be: youthful.Key players like junior Xavier Hendon, sophomore Liedtke, junior Logan Rose and sophomore Anthony Pizzuli have big things on the horizon with an experienced head coach like Rice. While the abrupt end to the season still hasn’t sunk in for some, there’s still optimism about the possibilities for the Raiders next season.“I’m sitting here, and I don’t know if it’s just the shock or what it is, but I’m still excited. I’m still ready to get back out here and play another game even though we don’t have one this year,” Hendon said. “But I’ve got my senior year, so we’re gonna be there.”Hendon will be the main piece returning after rushing for 2,097 yards in the regular season with 27 touchdowns, all while playing both ways, but none of that matters to him now. Absorbing the loss from a mental standpoint, Hendon realized the struggles he and his team had on defense are just an opportunity to improve for next season.“They were running it down our throat the entire time; it was kind of embarrassing,” Hendon said. “That just means we have to get bigger, get stronger, get smarter on defense and do our thing next year.”