It’s easy for players to be motivated to play a rival or a tough region opponent. But when teams are facing an opponent they know they should beat, it can sometimes be hard to stay focused. That’s how upsets happen.

Athens High faced that potential on Friday when they played winless Columbia. But the Golden Eagles kept their focus and rolled to a 42-0 victory to stay in control of their playoff destiny.

“I was very proud of our guys,” Athens coach Cody Gross said. “They came out and did what we challenged them to do. It was a game we should have won, but the recipe was there for us to mess this one up.”

Athens quarterback Logan Smothers was the catalyst, throwing three touchdown passes and rushing for another score.

Athens scored early and often, rolling up a 42-0 halftime lead. The huge halftime lead allowed Gross to play backups and younger players, and neither team dented the scoreboard in the second half.

The Golden Eagles’ first score came on a 4-yard run by Ke’Andre Jones with 9:48 left in the first quarter. Sean O’Connor added the first of his three successful PAT attempts, putting Athens on top 7-0.

With 7:55 left in the first quarter, Smothers scored on an 8-yard rushing touchdown. Athens put 21 points on the board after Smothers found Braden Gross on completed passes of 17 and 26 yards.

The Golden Eagles added to the lead with 10:43 left in the second quarter, as Martez Christian scored on a 2-yard run. Gross opted to give sophomore Cezar Ruiz-Sanchez some kicking experience by letting him attempt the PAT, which split the uprights to put the Eagles up 28-0.

As the clock wound down to 2:59 left in the second quarter, Miles Fewell scored on a 9-yard pass from Smothers. Athens closed out the scoring with a 20-yard pass from Smothers to Gross with 22 seconds left in the half. Ruiz-Sanchez nailed his third PAT to give the Golden Eagles a 42-point lead at halftime.

The third and fourth quarters allowed many Golden Eagles some playing experience. The young players didn’t let the first string down by not only preventing Columbia from scoring but not allowing them to even cross the 50-yard line.

With 2:22 left in the fourth quarter, Ramon McLemore recovered a fumble and secured the win for Athens. Before time ran out, Golden Eagle backup quarterback Jacob Jinks had the opportunity to get under center. Jinks racked up 31 yards in just three plays before the game ended.

The win was Athens’ fourth straight after starting the season 0-3. The Golden Eagles now sit at 4-3 overall and 3-2 in Class 6A, Region 8. Athens faces a huge game Friday when it hosts Hazel Green with a potential playoff spot on the line.

An Athens win combined with a Hartselle loss to Decatur will see the Golden Eagles clinch their first playoff berth since 2013.