High School

Columbus snaps Malakoff win streak in Texas high school football 3A Division I championship: Live updates recap

Grayson Rigdon rushes for 119 yards, 4 TDs to help Cardinals win 1st state title

Cody Thorn

Grayson Rigdon celebrates a touchdown Thursday night in the Texas high school football state championship game against Malakoff.
Grayson Rigdon celebrates a touchdown Thursday night in the Texas high school football state championship game against Malakoff. / Tommy Hays

ARLINGTON — Grayson Rigdon capped off a stellar career with a fourth straight state championship, and in the process, he helped his new teammates make history.

The Columbus running back ran for four touchdowns to help spark the Cardinals to a 48-14 win over defending state champion Malakoff in the Class 3A Division I title on Thursday night at AT&T Stadium.

A crowd of 10,166 fans watched Columbus win its first state title and Malakoff saw its 31-game winning streak come to an end as it looked to repeat as the state champions.

Malakoff coach Jamie Driskell said his team battled and exerted a lot in playoff wins against Jefferson and Paradise. With multiple two-way starters, the Tigers struggled to keep pace with the Cardinals after the game was tied 7-7 in the first quarter.

The Cardinals scored 41 consecutive points from the final 3 minutes of the first quarter until the final 3 minutes of the fourth quarter.

“I think we just ran out of steam, really, more than anything,” Driskell said. “Plus, when you play a better team and all that, it’s a recipe for a butt whooping, and that is what we got.”

Columbus (15-1) played lights out on offense — scoring on seven of eight drives. The exception came in the game’s final seconds when the JV offense was in.

Rigdon ran for 119 yards, while TCU signee Adam Schobel ran for a score and was 15-for-21 for 261 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Schobel is the son of head coach Matt Schobel, a former NFL tight end who played at TCU. 

The play of the offensive MVP impressed Driskell.

“He’s something else,” Malakoff’s coach said. “He’s a long, tall kid and as you can well see, he can deliver the ball. He’s got a great arm and he’s really good at buying himself time. We thought we could get to him a little bit and then he bought himself time. He’s very accurate on the run. A lot of high school kids may be accurate, but if you get them off their spot, the accuracy goes away. He’s not like that at all.”

Schobel kept Rigdon from making it four in a row in winning the MVP award. He was MVP at both Strawn (2021) and Benjamin (2022, 2023) in Class 1A.

The Cardinals’ offense blitzed Malakoff, which gave up a season-high in points by the first half. The 48 points were the most Malakoff has given up since ceding 56 in a loss to Cedar Hill Trinity Christian in 2020.

That Cedar Hill team was coached by Deion Sanders, and the quarterback was Shedeur Sanders — who threw six touchdowns that game.

The defense also made life rough for the Tigers. The six sacks tied a Class 3A record and half of those came from John Schobel. 

The cousin of Adam and nephew of Matt, John Schobel had 10 tackles, 3 tackles for loss and was named the defensive MVP. 

John Schobel’s dad, Aaron, played at TCU as well before a nine-year career with the Buffalo Bills.

Malakoff Tigers (15-0) vs. Columbus Cardinals (14-1), 7 p.m., Thursday

For the second year in a row and for the third time in program history, Malakoff is in the finals. 

The Tigers won the Class 3A Division I state title last year with a 14-7 win against Franklin and enter this game winners of 31 in a row. 

In seven of the team’s 15 wins, the Tigers’ defense has allowed a touchdown or less with five shutouts. LB Parker Poteete has 145 tackles.

On offense, QB Mike Jones has completed 70% of his passes with 2,537 yards and 38 TDs. He’s also ran for 1,080 yards and 11 TDs. RB Jason Tennyson has 1,748 yards and 25 scores on the ground for Malakoff.

The Cardinals are making their debut in the state finals after winning its first semifinal game in its third try — a 49-6 romp over Edna.

Columbus features a pair of Division I players in QB Adam Schobel and RB Grayson Rigdon. The latter is a two-spot signee at Wyoming, who helped Benjamin win a 6-man title last year. Rigdon ran for four scores in the semifinal win. Schobel, a TCU signee, had three touchdown passes in the semifinal game.

Rigdon has been in a championship game every year of his high school career. As a freshman at Strawn and the two previous years at Benjamin.

TEXAS HS FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD

Follow along below for live updates from the Class 3A-Division I state finals between Columbus and Malakoff, scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. CT on Thursday, Dec. 19, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

Malakoff vs. Columbus, Class 3A-Division I state finals live updates

Pregame updates

There was a moment of silence held for Columbus football player Aleks Medrano. The senior died on Oct. 2 from a sudden illness, according to The Houston Chronicle.

First Quarter Updates

Malakoff wins the toss and deferred. Columbus will get the ball first

QB Adam Schobel -- TCU signee -- with a 49-yard strike to Braylon Fisher to move the Malakoff 21-yard line.

Columbus calls a timeout with 10:05 left in the first

TOUCHDOWN COLUMBUS! Grayson Rigdon with 4-yard TD run with 9:25 left. On the play prior, he had a wick stiffarm on a Malakoff defender. PAT is good by Jesus Mendoza. Columbus 7, Malakoff 0

TOUCHODWN MALAKOFF! Jerrion Hall with a 4-yard run and the Tigers answer right back. Jacob Padron with PAT. Malakoff 7, Columbus 7. 6:35 left in 1st

Big passing play from Schobel to Elijah Usher. 39-yard gain. The ball is at the 2-yard line. Impressive throw and catch.

TOUCHDOWN COLUMBUS! Rigdon again, this time from the 2-yard line. 2:54 left. Columbus 14, Malakoff 7

On his last carry, for 9 yards, Rigdon went over the 2,000-yard mark for the season.

TOUCHDOWN COLUMBUS! Schobel to Braylon Fisher for a 32-yard touchdown pass. Another impressive pitch and catch. Columbus 21, Malakoff 7. 0:00 in 1st

END OF 1ST QUARTER: Columbus 21, Malakoff 7

2ND QUARTER

TOUCHDOWN COLUMBUS! Schobel on a 2-yard keeper. Columbus is rolling. 6:23 to play in 2nd. Columbus 28, Malakoff 7

TOUCHDOWN COLUMBUS! Rigdon with a hurdle into the end zone on a 13-yard TD run. PAT blocked. Columbus 34, Malakoff 7. 1:18 left in the 2nd

HALFTIME: Columbus 34, Malakoff 7

This is the most points Malakoff has given up this year; also the most since giving up 35 to Dallas Parish Episcopal in 2021.

3RD QUARTER

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Malakoff goes for it on 4hth and 18 and QB Mike Jones is sacked for a 12-yard loss. Columbus ball at the 50-yard line. 6:42 left in 3rd

TOUCHDOWN COLUMBUS! Rigdon with 2-yard TD run at the 4:18 mark. Columbus 41, Malakoff 7

Mike Jones with a 45-yard run and the Tigers are at the Columbus 27-yard line

A 24-yard gain by Malakoff negated by a replay review

END OF 3RD QUARTER: Columbus 41, Malakoff 7

4TH QUARTER

Ridgon leaves the game with an injury

TOUCHDOWN COLUMBUS! Camdon Pitchford with a 15-yard TD catch from Schobel. 8:37 to play. Columbus 48, Malakoff 7

TOUCHDOWN MALAKOFF! Jason Tennyson with a 3-yard run with 2:39 to play. The Tigers finally on the board for the first time since the first quarter. Columbus 48, Malakoff 14

Attendance announced as 10,166 for Game 3 today at AT&T Stadium

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Columbus comes up short on 4th down. Malakoff ball with 10 seconds to go.

FINAL: Columbus 48, Malakoff 14

Offensive MVP: QB Adam Schobel, Columbus — 15-for-21, 261 yards, 2 TDs; 1 rushing TD

Defensive MVP: LB John Schobel, Columbus — 10 tackles, 3 sacks

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Cody Thorn
CODY THORN

Cody Thorn is a veteran journalist who covers high school sports across the state of Texas and Missouri. He is based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and has covered sports and news since 1999.

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