(FORT LAUDERDALE) -- Miami Columbus pulled the hat out of the bag to beat Apopka in a 16-13 overtime instant classic for their 2nd Football State Championship in their school's storied football history. Wide Receiver AJ Arellano took a reverse and connected with his quarterback Albert Mendoza for a 5yd TD in overtime as a crowd of 6,904 at DRV PNK Stadium erupted with the Explorers rushing the field to celebrate what they had just witnessed as the newly crowned 2022 Class 4M State Champions.

Junior QB Albert Mendoza played a solid game commanding the Explorers' offense completing 11 of 16 passes for 148 yards, with 1 TD and 1 INT. He connected with Leon with a 50 yard TD late in the 1st quarter to put Columbus' first points on the board and a 7-3 lead. Mendoza played with grit throughout the whole game and seemed very poised, even after been sacked 5 times by Apopka's staunt defense.

Apopka's run game performed with both QB Tyson Davison and Roberts have good statistical days stat sheet-wise. Davison had 139 yards on 13 carries, with a 46 yard TD with 4:44 left in the game to tie and eventually send the game to overtime. Davison also had a long 61-yard scamper in the __ leading to ___. However, the Blue Darters' offense was very one-sided with only 12 pass attempts on the day. Even without star safety TJ Capers, Miami Columbus was able to hold Apopka to only 5 receptions for 52 yards.

Miami Columbus defense held firm holding the Apopka Blue Darters to a FG in the first Overtime series
Albert Mendoza caught the game-winning quarterback on a reverse pass to give the Columbus Explorers their second football state championship in school history.


THE EXPLORER
Dave Dunn talked about the play called Explorer. When I called it in college, it didn't work and they thought I was...." Now they will label State Champion Head Coach Dave Dunn as a genius, as his play, "The Explorer" worked to perfection. Apopka is king at misdirection. And Columbus gave the Blue Darters a dose of their own medicine with the reverse pass trick play executing to perfection.


MIAMI COLUMBUS MONSTER SEASON
Columbus ends their 2022 campaign as the Class 4M State Champs, Florida's largest classification in the 2022 season, with a record, with their only loss coming to Class 2M and the Nation's #1 Team Miami Central Rockets.


A REMATCH OF THE 2019 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP



BOX SCORE


SCORING

1ST HALF

1ST QUARTER
1ST - 09:24 -- APK -- Hayden Koscicki 22yd FG | 0-3
1ST - 02:09 -- COL -- Albert Mendoza 50yd TD Pass to Leon, Allen PAT Kick Good | 7-3

2ND QUARTER
2ND - 00:00 -- COL -- Allen 32 yd Kick Good | 10-3

2ND HALF

4TH QUARTER

4TH - 04:44 -- APK --Davidson 46yd Rush, Koscicki PAT Kick Good | 10-10

OVERTIME
OT1 - 00:00 -- APK -- Koscicki FG Kick Good | 10-13
OT1 - 00:00 -- COL -- AJ Arellano 5yd TD Pass to Albert Mendoza | 16-13

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Official 2022 State Championship Game Page on Florida Gridiron

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MORE RELATED LINKS

2022 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
2022 Class 4M Playoff Brackets
2022 FHSAA Class 4M Final RPI Rankings

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VIDEOS OF THE 2022 CLASS 4M STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

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