_{September 12, 2025}
by Jake Lazar
Miami, Fla. | “Panthers Claw Past Explorers”

Florida Man Sports is back at Tropical Park for Week 4 of the South Florida high school football season. This battle under the lights was an absolute dogfight between the Miami Palmetto Panthers and Christopher Columbus Explorers, with both crowds sharing pleasantries all night. Palmetto is coming off a ten-point loss to one of their biggest rivals in South Ridge. On the other side is Christopher Columbus, who has an absolute gauntlet of a schedule and has yet to win a game this season.

​Palmetto started with the ball on their own twenty-yard line, but on the very first play of the game, 2027 RB Aiden Butler fumbled, and as they fell on it, Columbus quickly found themselves 20 yards away from the endzone. Luckily for Palmetto’s offense, their defense came up big and forced a turnover on downs, keeping the Explorers off the scoreboard. Both teams had opportunities in the red zone during the first quarter, but were unable to capitalize, and the score stayed blank after one.

​The same theme stayed true in the second quarter, with running backs from both teams absolutely tearing it up, but no points to show as Columbus fumbled in the red zone and Palmetto wasn’t able to get the job done despite a plethora of opportunities close to the goal line. A deep field goal went no good to end the half, and the game stayed tied at zero, with a much more exciting half to follow.

​Right after half time, 2026 RB Shawn James took matters into his own hands and ripped a 65-yard run right down the heart of the Palmetto defense to put his Explorers up by seven and swing the momentum far their way. Columbus 7 – Palmetto 0.

​Then, 2026 WR Amiel Mackey had no intention of waiting until he took the field on offense to make magic happen, and took the kick return all the way to the Columbus thirty-yard line to put his offense in prime field position. A reception from 2026 WR Samuel Althuis, followed by one from 2026 WR Connelius Miller, brought the Panthers three yards away from tying the game up, but a stingy Explorer defense held strong, forcing Palmetto to kick a field goal. The score: Columbus 7, Palmetto 3.

​Columbus’s next drive wasn’t as efficient as their first of the half, and Palmetto quickly got the ball back. 2027 RB Aiden Butler and FLORIDA MAN PLAYER OF THE GAME knew it was his time to make something happen, and from his own thirty, he created space in the open field and took a seam route seventy yards and into the endzone to put Palmetto up three. Palmetto 10 – Columbus 7.

​Things started falling apart for Columbus as Palmetto forced and recovered a fumble, putting them forty yards away from the goal line. Again, Aiden Butler was not letting any opportunity go to waste in the second half as he took a run up the gut for 35 yards and the score, extending Palmetto’s lead to finish the quarter 17-7, Panthers up by ten.

​To begin the final quarter, Columbus was driving, and 2027 QB Kingston Rust tossed one up to 2027 ATH Ajavion Willis, and boy did he make a play, climbing the ladder and coming down with a thirty-yard touchdown ball in the corner of the endzone to keep his Explorers in the game. Palmetto 17 – Columbus 14.

​A short drive from Palmetto gave Columbus the ball back, and it felt like deja vu because Shawn James took another rush, seventy yards to the house to put the Explorers back on top late, 21-17.

​Now, it was up to Palmetto to answer, with time dwindling late in the final quarter. Would Palmetto fall short again, or would they beat Columbus for the first time since 2021? 2026 QB Andre Bailey answered that question himself.

​To begin the drive, Bailey ran around the backfield before scrambling thirty yards to the Columbus forty. Then, he connected with Althuis, which was almost the touchdown they needed as he ran in open space, but Althuis was met by an Explorer at the three-yard line. Finally, when they needed it most, Bailey took what was supposed to be a QB sneak and bounced it outside, spinning his way past the goal line for six. With less than four minutes to go, Palmetto was up by three, and Columbus needed to strike fast.

​However, the Explorer offense looked like a deer in the headlights and faltered under pressure. An interesting coaching decision by Columbus had them punting to Palmetto with 2:25 to go down by three. All the Panthers needed was a first down, and that was it, and Head Coach Michael Manasco understood that. In a time when running out the clock was the focus, Coach Manasco went all in, passing on second and third down, which ultimately got them the first down and the ball game. The final score was 24-21, and Palmetto defeated Columbus for the first time since 2021.

​Palmetto moves to 2-1, with their other win coming from an absolute blowout of Booker T. Washington, who is greatly underperforming to begin the 2025 season. 2027 RB Aiden Butler earned player of the game with over two hundred all-purpose yards and two touchdowns. 2026 QB Andre Bailey was great in the clutch, rushing in a touchdown of his own late on the broken QB sneak. Next up on their schedule is Killian, a Thursday night battle between the cats.

​Columbus has looked solid to start the season, but hasn’t been able to mark a tally in the win column due to their strength of schedule. They have the talent to get it done; however, it is an uphill climb with Northwestern up next back at Tropical Park on Friday.

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FINAL SCORE:
Miami Palmetto beats Christopher Columbus 24-21

About Jake Lazar:
Jake Lazar is a beat writer covering high school football for Florida Man Sports. Lazar is a Junior at Miami Palmetto Senior High, involved in TV Production, and has previously written for sports blog FL Teams.