STARKVILLE, Miss. — Tra Lewis plunged in from six yards out with 15 seconds remaining and Columbia’s defense sealed it with a late interception as the Wildcats edged Kosciusko 6-0 on Friday night to win the MHSAA Class 4A State Championship at Davis Wade Stadium.
The victory capped a perfect 15-0 season for Columbia and delivered the program’s third state title and first since 2021.
“Tonight, the way this game went is how our team is. These guys are all toughness, not flash, not many Division I players but tough football players who have toughness and heart and that’s what you want,” said Columbia head coach Chip Bilderback. “When we came back in April, we told the guys this was the goal. We’re feeling great. I’m so happy for the kids. They’ve been through so much over the last couple years. They’ve been so close.”
The game’s only points came after Columbia took over at its own 42-yard line with 3:12 remaining. An eight-play, 58-yard drive was kept alive by a 20-yard completion from Clyde Peters to Ashton Daniels and a 15-yard personal foul penalty against Kosciusko. Lewis finished it with his 6-yard touchdown run.
Tyson Brown intercepted a desperation pass on Kosciusko’s final possession to end the game.
Lewis, named game MVP, rushed for 58 yards and the lone touchdown on 16 carries.
“This feels great winning a state championship my senior year. I had to do what I do to help the team win. I had to push through for those guys,” Lewis said. “Defense played lights out and played great all playoffs and we had to play a full 48 minutes.”
Columbia’s defense stifled Kosciusko (13-2), holding the Whippets to 146 total yards.
“Defense has been lights out the last three weeks. Kosciusko is a really good team and very explosive. They’re well-coached and I have a lot of respect for them. Our kids just out-toughed them at the end. This team is a family and fun to coach,” Bilderback said. “That game could’ve gone either way. Tra was a sophomore when we lost to Louisville and for him to come get this one, we wouldn’t be here without him.”
Caiden Wade completed 8-of-14 passes for 65 yards to lead Kosciusko. He also rushed for 28 yards.
“We weren’t clean tonight. We’d make a big play and then get called for a penalty,” said Kosciusko coach Casey Orr. “Defensively we played hard and really well. It was a great football game and unfortunately someone had to lose and we were on the wrong side of it.”
