Needing a victory over winless Columbus to become playoff eligible, the Poynette Indians fought through a slow start en route to a 41-8 victory over the Cardinals in Poynette on Thursday night.

Poynette senior running back Brett Rice got things going for Poynette breaking a 43-yard TD run for the game's first score in the second quarter. After Poynette forced the Cardinals to punt on their next possession, sophomore Adam Ray took the punt 72 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown and the rout was on for the Indians.

Rice, who added a 9-yard TD run in the third quarter to give Poynette a 21-0 lead, finished the night with 209 rushing yards on 26 carries. Junior quarterback Cody Odegaard also had a 30-yard TD run and finished the night completing 4-of-10 passes for 50 yards and one interception.

Poynette also got scores from Shawn Lenius on a 9-yard run and from Paul Dorn on a 17-yard pass from backup QB Josh Friant in the fourth quarter.

Columbus, who finishes 0-9 for the second straight season, got its lone score on a 13-yard TD run from Zach Zander, who was held to 88 yards on 22 carries.

POYNETTE 41, COLUMBUS 8

Columbus ............0 0 0 8 - 8

Poynette .............0 14 13 14 - 41

P - Rice 43 run (Odegaard kick)

P - Ray 72 punt return (Odegaard kick)

P - Rice 9 run (Odegaard kick)

P - Odegaard 30 run (kick failed)

P - Lenius 9 run (Odegaard kick)

C - Zander 13 run (Zander run)

P - Dorn 17 pass from Friant (Odegaard kick)

TEAM STATS                  CO                      PO

First downs ...............8                  8

Total Net Yards .........223               358

Rushes-yards ...........41-164          36-293

Passing ...................59                 65

Comp-Att-Int ...........4-14-2           5-11-1

Penalties-Yards ........5-40              4-30

Fumbles-Lost ...........2-1                1-0

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING: C - Zander 22-88; P - Rice 26-209. PASSING: C - Fagerburg 4-14-2, 59; P - Odegaard 4-10-1, 50. RECEIVING: C - Schey 2-24; P - Dorn 1-17.