After competing for the Northeast Eight championship in 2024 with a one-loss regular season, it was an up-and-down campaign for Columbia City a season ago.
A season-opening victory at NorthWood was a highlight, as well as a hard-fought dub at DeKalb to open sectional play. But the Eagles were held to one touchdown or less in four of their five defeats, including a shutout loss to Bishop Dwenger that ended the 6-5 season.
It is almost a tale of two sides of a coin for Columbia City heading into this fall. Graduation took the top two rushers, top two receivers, the two leading tacklers and do-everything stalwart Gavin Smith, who set the career mark for interceptions by capping his senior campaign with eight last year.
Then again, there are a lot of players back with varsity experience. Senior Jace Pettigrew is one of the best at his edge position in the area, junior Lukas Duncan could be a star in the making on offense and Gabe McDevitt could be a weapon moving from quarterback to running back.
Despite the question marks, Coach Brett Fox’s team could be the biggest threat to East Noble for the conference title.
A pair of All-NE8 linemen will anchor the front in Dorian Bunn and Zach Furthmiller. They will be joined by fellow seniors Caden Bohnstedt, Braden Potts and Logan Richmond.
The defensive line has similar experience. In addition to Pettigrew, who had 37 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and five sacks last season, classmates Gavin Shepherd and Tanner Rider are back in the mix up front, with Bunn and Furthmiller as well.
If you are looking for strengths on the roster for Columbia City, it definitely has to be the offensive and defensive fronts.
Jordan Parrett takes over as QB1. The promising junior brings some play-making ability to the position that should help the offense against solid defenses. Some new receivers will need to step up, although the aforementioned Duncan is a definite candidate.
While the defensive unit will definitely miss Smith on the back end, seniors Tannor Ellis (28 tackles, three TFL, three INTs) and Ian Berry (39-2-2) are back and have plenty of experience. Junior Colton Schroeder also is now a veteran after seeing a lot of snaps as a sophomore.
The linebacker spot had attrition with Trace Parrish and Sam Bean gone. Coach Fox will look to Corbin McIntosh to be the calming influence with new starters around him.
The schedule swaps Plymouth out for Northridge, the only change from a season ago. The Week 2 matchup will be intriguing considering former East Noble coach Luke Amstutz is now at the helm of the Raiders.
WHY #8?
Columbia City seems to be in a cycle in recent years where it has a year in which it challenges for the NE8 title, then a year of reloading. If the trend continues, the Eagles should be in the mix in the league in 2026.
The potential of Jordan Parrett at quarterback is not to be underestimated. His level of talent, if he can translate it to Friday nights relatively quickly as a junior, will give the Eagles some offensive firepower it lacked a season ago. Finding ways to score against good teams will be the difference between being a true thorn in the side of East Noble and fighting it out with the rest of the league in the middle of the standings.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Second-best ranking in our Preseason Power Poll amongst NE8 teams? Feel like that is pretty fair and There are definite concerns along the offensive and defensive lines. Leo lacks experience at some key spots with its big guys, and there is not a lot of depth there as well.
CRITICAL GAME
Week 7 at East Noble
The benefit of playing East Noble so late in the year is that Columbia City will have things figured out, what works and what doesn’t. Conversely, the Knights will be in the same position as it integrates its new starters.
The two-week stretch with East Noble and Leo has always been the focal point of outsiders for the Eagles. The depth of the NE8 has improved in recent years, but competing with that duo is still the barometer that teams are judged upon.
If Columbia City can handle business in the conference heading into Week 7, it will make this showdown in Kendallville a big one.
CRUCIAL PLAYER
JORDAN PARRETT, JUNIOR, QUARTERBACK
Columbia City averaged 37 points per game in its wins a season ago and seven points in its five losses. So it isn’t hard to figure out that a big key to the Eagles’ season is finding the end zone against respectable foes. Parrett will be a big part of that. While lacking in varsity experience, Parrett has good mechanics and a mindset that he can make all the throws. He has a veteran offensive line in front of him that should give him time to operate.
Parrett doesn’t need to put up monster numbers, but if he can be a part of Columbia City’s ability to be a big-play threat downfield, it should open up opportunities in the run game and make the Eagles more difficult to defend. Finding ways to score points against the good teams on the schedule is paramount, and Parrett is the centerpiece of making that happen.
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