Columbia gets to celebrate its home opener one week early. On Aug. 19, Columbia Athletics announced on X that its Week 1 road game against Independence was moved to Columbia Station.
The game is scheduled to take place Aug. 23 at Columbia’s Southwest General Stadium. “It is always good to play at home,” Columbia coach Michael Rice said.
“Ultimately, it does not change a whole lot other than being in a more familiar place.” According to former football coach and current Athletic Director Jason Ward, Independence is in the process of installing new bleachers for its fans. “(Independence) reached out a couple of months ago and just said that they were getting new bleachers, they might not be ready and if we would mind hosting the game if need be.
We said, ‘No problem,’” Ward said. With Columbia hosting another home game, Ward enjoys the idea of the community experiencing another home game. “I am sure that everybody is excited.
It is a good jolt (of energy) knowing that normally we play a couple of games before school starts,” Ward said. “Putting this out there, I hope that everyone is talking about it, is excited about it and I hope that we get a great crowd. It should be a beautiful night based on the early forecast.
Hopefully, Raider Nation turns out the way that they always do.” Rice was aware of the schedule change in the before. Prior to the announcement, the news leaked within the community.
When he told the team, he saw the room light up with smiles. “I think word had gotten out a little bit, but when (the players) heard it from me, there were a lot of smiles on their faces and a lot of first pumping. They are excited to be home,” Rice said.
Since 2004, Columbia comes into the game with an 8-3 record against the Blue Devils. The Raiders’ 41-6 victory in last year’s season opener marked the third straight victory in the matchup. In Ward’s last season, the Raiders went 10-2 and won a Division VI, Region 22 playoff game.
Independence lost its first six games, but won its final four for a 4-6 record. “Coach (Rick) Adams always has them ready to go,” Rice said. “They do some things offensively that (they do).
They coach (the players) up really well every year. We have to be ready for those things. On our side, we have to play our best game.
We have to clean up some of the mistakes that we made in the last scrimmage (against Trinity) last week. We have been focusing on us being the best version of us that we can be and we can go into any game confident at that point.” This will be Rice’s first game as Columbia’s coach, as Ward’s replacement.
He is excited for the opportunity to get his first win under the lights on his home field. “I am ready for it to get rolling here and see what we got,” he said. “I want to see what we have and see the work that we put in pay off.
We get to go out and compete. One of the things that I love about coaching is that I love to compete. I love training guys and working with a team to go out and compete.
We are going to have a chance to do that on Friday night, and we are looking forward to it.”.
