TIME OUT: Power Moves and Powerhouses

The Columbus Lions lit the first spark, announcing local business owner, longtime coach, and community leader Corry Black as the franchise’s new General Manager. Black is no stranger to shaping winners—on the field, in the classroom, or across the country. Currently serving as the Dean of Scholars at Emmanuel Prep School of Math and Science, Black mentors Pre-K through 8th-grade students with the same commitment and leadership that have defined his athletic career. Impressively, he will continue in that role while stepping into his new front-office seat with the Lions.

This announcement followed another major shift in the organization: the team’s new Majority Owner, Roger Beck, a name synonymous with Columbus sports. Both Beck and Black have built deep ties throughout the local athletic landscape, coaching generations of youth and high school athletes and earning reputations as builders of both talent and character.

Black’s résumé runs deep. For over 20 years he has owned and operated CB Hoops, a company known nationwide for developing athletes and hosting some of the most competitive basketball showcases in the region. His annual Corry Black Classic, held in Atlanta, is a premier jamboree that draws players and coaches from across the southeast. Beyond the events, Black has shaped an entire network of mentors, trainers, and athletes—many of whom have gone on to successful high school, college, and professional careers. Columbus also knows him well from his time as Athletic Director and state championship-winning head boys’ basketball coach at Pacelli High School. His tenure there helped cement Pacelli’s place among Georgia’s top basketball programs, and his return to local leadership with the Lions feels less like a hire and more like a homecoming.

As General Manager, Black will help lead the Lions’ rapidly expanding front office, working closely with ownership while providing full support to the coaching staff led by Lions Hall of Famer and Head Coach Damian Daniels. With championships in 2010, 2015, 2016, 2023, and 2024, the Lions remain one of the most successful franchises in arena football history. Their next chapter begins April 16 when they kick off their inaugural season in the American Arena League, facing the Tri-City River Gators.

But the gridiron spotlight didn’t shine on the Lions alone—because just down the highway, another dynasty added another trophy. The Pacelli Lady Vikings claimed their fourth straight state championship, dominating Mount de Sales Academy 20–0 in a near-flawless title performance. From the opening whistle, Pacelli controlled every inch of the field, executing with the confidence of a championship program and the hunger of a team still chasing more.

Freshman phenom Mia Camp put together the kind of performance that becomes legend. She rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown on only ten carries—setting a new season-high—and added 30 receiving yards for good measure. On the defensive side, Wynn Ward was simply unstoppable, snatching three interceptions and setting the tone for a unit that refused to budge.

With the victory, the Lady Vikings closed their season at 19-1, winning their seventh straight road game and posting an average margin of victory of 20 points across that stretch.

The next spotlight shines on a powerhouse preparing for another championship shot of their own: the Central Lady Red Devils. At 18-0 and ranked No. 6 nationally by MaxPreps and No. 3 by USA Today, Central rides a jaw-dropping 56-game winning streak, the longest in AHSAA state history. This program is not simply elite, it is historic.

Quarterback Mariah Harrison has been nearly untouchable this season, throwing for 3,465 yards and 72 touchdowns, while adding another 566 yards and 16 scores on the ground. Her offensive arsenal includes two elite receivers in Savannah Sevier (90 catches, 1,498 yards, 18 TDs) and Colby Cook (72 catches, 1,179 yards, 23 TDs), the latter also starring on defense with eight interceptions. But the secret behind this year’s team? That iron curtain of a defense. Sixteen shutouts in eighteen games. Pure domination from start to finish.

While the Central girls continued their historic run, the Central boys fought through the postseason with grit and heartbreak. Their season came to a dramatic end in a 35–34 loss to Thompson, falling just one point short of advancing.

In defeat, the Red Devils showed heart. Jayshaun Woodhouse delivered 127 rushing yards and added 34 more receiving, marking his third straight game over 127 on the ground. JJ Joiner added two scores, battling to keep Central alive to the very end. But Thompson had just enough firepower, led by sophomore Urijah Casey, who rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. His 53-yard burst swung momentum in a game that came down to inches. Central closes the year at 11-2, but with a foundation strong enough to expect another deep run next fall.

Meanwhile, the Carver Tigers continued their reign of dominance with another jaw-dropping postseason blowout, this time a 56–0 dismantling of Stephens County—Carver’s second straight shutout of 56 points and their fourth consecutive defensive shutout overall. And what a show it was. Running back Kelston Tarver erupted for a career-high 178 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 11 carries, averaging a staggering 16 yards per attempt. His backfield partner Zach Watts added 110 yards, powering a ground attack that produced 354 total rushing yards, their highest mark of the season.

Defensively, the Tigers were suffocating. Steven Wright and DeMarcus O’Neal snagged interceptions, with O’Neal continuing his streak of defended passes. And then there was Daijon Daniels, who delivered one of the most complete defensive performances of the year with 18 total tackles, four for loss. Carver sits at 12-0, undefeated, unstoppable, and headed into a showdown with Thomson on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. with all the momentum a team could ask for.

And so, concludes another unforgettable week in Columbus sports, a week defined by leadership changes, championship streaks, rising stars, and programs continuing to cement their legacies. Whether it was the Lions welcoming a proven leader, Pacelli and Central pushing championship banners higher, or Carver proving once again why they’re among the best in Georgia, one thing remains true, In the Valley, greatness is never far away.