Byrd is the word as Eagles fly past Jerseyville

Columbia running back Colton Byrd scores on a 49-yard run in the first quarter of Friday's game. (Corey Saathoff photo)

Columbia running back Colton Byrd scores on a 49-yard run in the first quarter of Friday’s game. (Corey Saathoff photo)

He’d already scored 22 touchdowns this season in eight games, but Columbia running back Colton Byrd put an exclamation point on his fine junior season Friday night.

Byrd scored five touchdowns and rushed for 245 yards on 28 carries in Columbia’s 48-28 victory at home over Jerseyville to close out the regular season.

Following a Greg Long-to-Jordan Holmes pass hookup of 11 yards, Byrd dropped a handoff exchange, picked it right up and scampered 49 yards to put the Eagles on the board at 5:21 of the first quarter. He would add TD runs of 8, 3, 1 and 22 yards on the night as the Columbia offensive line did another masterful job of providing room to run.

Byrd added 42 yards receiving and also contributed a sack on defense to cap off the night.

Senior quarterback Long added TD passes of three yards to Holmes and 33 yards to Liam Knox in the win. He went 14-of-16 passing for 162 yards on the night.

On defense, star linebacker Owen Suedkamp had his name called early and often on senior night, recording 14 tackles with six assists.

Columbia finished the regular season at 9-0 and will open the Class 4A playoffs at home on Oct. 29 against Greenville at 1 p.m. The Eagles carried an undefeated regular season record into the playoffs last year and won its first round playoff game at home against Breese Central before falling on the road to Mater Dei.

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Corey Saathoff

Corey is the editor of the Republic-Times. He has worked at the newspaper since 2004, and currently resides in Columbia. He is also the principal singer-songwriter and plays guitar in St. Louis area country-rock band The Trophy Mules.
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