Columbus Wins GMAC Title 28-3 Over Miami Central in Lightning-Shortened Game

Columbus Wins GMAC Title 28-3 Over Miami Central in Lightning-Shortened Game

No. 6 Columbus beat No. 22 Miami Central 28-3 for the GMAC championship at Traz Powell Stadium before lightning ended the game in the third quarter. Open Division stakes and what's next.

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Lightning finished what Columbus started. The No. 6 Explorers led No. 22 Miami Central 28-3 when officials called the Greater Miami Athletic Conference championship with 5:28 left in the third quarter Friday night at Traz Powell Stadium, according to SBLive's live coverage. The win makes Columbus the GMAC champion.

It was the marquee South Florida game of a busy national weekend. MaxPreps confirmed the 28-3 final in its Top 25 roundup.

How Columbus Built a 28-3 Lead on Miami Central

Brian Wilson Jr. opened the scoring on a 1-yard plunge in the first quarter, and Tyler Bryant caught a 56-yard touchdown pass in the first half. Central's only points came on a first-half field goal, and Columbus went to the break up 14-3.

Running back Cecil Smith took over from there with two short touchdown runs. The first lightning strike stopped play with Columbus up 20-3 midway through the third quarter. After a delay of about 38 minutes, Smith scored again to make it 28-3. Five minutes later, more lightning halted the game for good, and it was called at 10:28 p.m.

Kai Moore, A'mir Sears and the Columbus Explorers' Run

Columbus lost 31-24 at St. Thomas Aquinas on September 4 and hasn't lost since. Senior quarterback Kai Moore entered the night with 18 touchdown passes and about 206 passing yards per game, per SBLive. Senior A'mir Sears, a five-star Miami commit, plays both receiver and cornerback.

The Explorers are now 8-1. Central, which lost only at Buford before Friday, dropped to 6-2. The Rockets came in with senior quarterback James Perrone, senior running back Ninaud Joseph (about 130 rushing yards per game) and senior defensive tackle Edwardo Thompson, who had 11.5 sacks.

FHSAA Open Division Stakes for Columbus and Central

This game carried more than a conference trophy. Florida's first eight-team Open Division bracket is picked from the MaxPreps rankings at the end of the regular season. SBLive projected Columbus second and Central fifth before kickoff, and after Friday the Explorers look like a near lock while Central's spot is in doubt.

Both teams have one more regular-season test. Central hosts North Miami Beach on October 22, and Columbus faces Miami Northwestern on October 23. Follow more South Florida high school football on the BallerTube football page.