You can listen to my ‘5 Questions’ interiew with Player of the Week Dakotah Lightfoot from Columbia here!

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They are called “Hills”, and unless you’re into extreme workouts, they are not very fun.

You know that big, grassy hill that separates the parking lot from the football stadium at Columbia High School?

That’s where the Crimson Tide football team was Monday afternoon – at the base of that menacing hill, looking straight up.

“Gotta do 15 today,” Columbia senior running back Dakotah Lightfoot said, exhaling.

After what Lightfoot did to Daniel Boone last Saturday night, those 15 sprints to the top of the hill must have seemed like a piece of cake.

Lightfoot piled up a school-record 331 rushing yards on 23 attempts and scored five touchdowns – including the game-winner in overtime – to lead Columbia to a rip-roaring 48-47 win over Daniel Boone – a District 3 Triple-A semifinalist a year ago.

More impressively, Lightfoot put up those gaudy numbers playing on a muddy field, still gooey from the rain on Friday which postponed the game until Saturday night in Birdsboro.

Lightfoot’s touchdown runs covered 94, 66, 1, 72 and 10 yards, respectively. And heading into Week 4, he’s the league leader with 650 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns.

“He definitely had some great runs,” Columbia coach Jason Shoff said of Lightfoot, who had 212 yards by halftime. “Once he gets in the open field, he’s gone. And they were really loading up in the box, so once our linemen helped get him into the next level, he was gone. He played a great game all around … offense, defense and special teams.”

Lightfoot also caught two passes for 38 yards, made three solo tackles, assisted on three others, and he blocked a field goal – which was later negated by an inadvertent whistle.

Boone went on to tie the game, but Lightfoot’s 10-yard TD run won it for Columbia, which improved to 1-2 overall.

For his efforts, Lightfoot is the New Era Player of the Week.

And Monday, after his first set of five “Hills”, the Tide’s tailback sat down for the New Era’s 5 Questions:

AFTER A 0-2 START, IT MUST HAVE FELT GREAT TO FINALLY GET A WIN ON SATURDAY, RIGHT?

“We were starving for a win, so it meant a lot. It brought us together as a team and it brought our confidence level up. We needed that win. It helped a lot.”

WOW – 331 YARDS! WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

“I almost passed out at halftime. I was dead. It was so hot there. As the game went on I was thinking I might have some pretty good numbers in the end. I didn’t find out how many yards I had until the next morning. I was staying over at a friend’s house, and he came in and woke me up and told me he saw it in the paper. I couldn’t believe it.”

YOUR OFFENSIVE LINE MUST HAVE PLAYED A GREAT GAME, TOO. INTRODUCE US TO THE GUYS IN THE TRENCHES, WON’T YOU?

“The center is Bobby Schoelkopf, the guards are Rafael Mendez and Brandon Felus and the tackles are Brandon Aukamp and Kevin McCarty. And Alex Beckley is the tight end and Joey Charles is the fullback. They were all great; outstanding. I owe it all to those guys. That’s why I got 331.”

COLUMBIA IS A BIG SPORTS TOWN. WHAT’S IT LIKE PLAYING THERE?

“I love it. Everybody knows who you are – even if you don’t know them. The fans are great. They support you every well. It’s great playing here.”

OK, YOU’RE IN THE HUDDLE. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PLAY CALL?

“I’d say 45 Kick. The guard on the opposite side pulls and I follow him and the fullback through. The fullback kicks out the end. We called that play twice (against Daniel Boone), and the second time was for the 72-yard touchdown.”