Columbus East High School

Columbus East found the end zone in three different quarters and stayed within striking distance early in the second half, but the Olympians couldn’t keep pace with Whiteland’s ball-control offense in a 42-21 loss Friday night in the Class 5A sectional semifinal. Kyson Villarreal accounted for two touchdowns on the ground, scoring on a quarterback sneak in the second quarter and again on a 24-yard run early in the third that pulled East within 21-14. The Olympians later added a short touchdown run from Keatin Roberts in the closing minutes, but Whiteland’s ability to extend drives and finish with points ultimately decided the game. Rotert led the offense with 120 rushing yards on 26 attempts, while Villarreal added 46 yards on the ground and directed the offense throughout the night. Brody Miller contributed 39 yards on eight carries as East finished with three different players over 35 rushing yards. Whiteland built its lead by leaning almost exclusively on its rushing attack and controlling the clock. After East narrowed the margin to seven early in the third quarter, the Warriors answered with three straight touchdown drives — including one set up by an interception inside Olympian territory — to take full command of the matchup. By the time Columbus East scored its final touchdown with 1:39 remaining, the deficit was out of reach and the Warriors were already preparing for next week’s sectional championship against East Central. FINAL SCORE Whiteland 42, Columbus East 21 Columbus East Scoring Drives 2Q — Villarreal 1-yard run (Nihalani kick) 3Q — Villarreal 24-yard run (Nihalani kick) 4Q — Roberts 2-yard run (Nihalani kick) Olympians Rushing Leaders Player Carries Yards TD JD Rotert 26 120 0 Kyson Villarreal 13 46 2 Brody Miller 8 39 0 The loss closes the postseason for the Olympians, who finish the year with a 5-6 record and now shift into offseason preparation.