COLUMBUS - Trailing 7-2 at the half, Horicon looked to its leaders to get things on track.

"At halftime our captains stepped up and said we're going to win this football game," Horicon coach Jim Trost said. "They said we're going to get the ball and score. That's what good football teams are about."

And good leaders. The Marshmen heeded the advice, scoring on their opening drive as they rattled off 23 unanswered second half points en route to defeating Columbus, 25-13, in nonconference play on Friday.

The Marshmen turned the tide in the third quarter. Their 7- minute, 40-second long opening 61-yard drive was capped by a 5-yard touchdown scamper by senior quarterback Mike Michalovitz putting Horicon up 8-7.

Horicon's defense wasn't to be outdone. It matched the tone of the offense by creating three turnovers that all led to scores.

"We played very hard in third quarter," Trost said. "It was nice to see us create opportunities. We preach that you win with defense and everything else will take care of itself."

Junior cornerback Jake Wille picked off a Cardinal pass on Columbus' first possession of the second half and returned it to the Cardinal 29. Two plays later, Nick Steffen dove in from a yard out.

Horicon stopped Columbus on its next drive. Baker's punt attempt was blocked by the Marshmen's Aaron Garcia and recovered on the Cardinal 14 by Jeff Ritchard.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Cody Apfelbeck, who rushed for 91 yards on 25 carries on the night, scored from 10 yards out, giving the Marshmen a 22-7 lead.

Tyler Schmude, who blocked a punt in the second quarter for a safety, picked off a Cardinal pass and returned it 10 yards to the Cardinal 16. Shaun Dickinson capped the drive with a 32-yard field goal and a 25-7 advantage with 4:48 left in the game.

"We put ourselves in bad field position in the second half," said Columbus coach Jason Brunell, "and in the game of football field position is key."

Columbus, which went winless last season, showed plenty of mettle in the first half including taking a 7-2 lead on a 74-yard touchdown run by senior halfback Remington Molnar in the second half. Molnar would finish the night with 112 yards on 11 carries, but only picking up two yards on two carries in the second half.

Columbus made the contest interesting late. Baker, a sophomore, hit senior Dan Hayes with a 28-yard touchdown pass with 2:28 left in the game.

The Cardinals recovered the ensuing onside kick but were stopped on downs deep inside Marshmen territory. Horicon took a knee to run out the clock.

Despite the score, Columbus outgained Horicon 263-185.

"We're a young team and we made some mistakes. Hopefully we will rebound," the Cardinals' Brunell said.

Columbus will play host to Kettle Moraine Lutheran next Friday while Horicon hosts Milwaukee North.

HORICON 25, COLUMBUS 13

Horicon 0 2 13 10 - 25

Columbus 0 7 0 6 - 13

Horicon - Safety, blocked punt recovered in end zone (10:43)

Columbus - Molnar 74 run (Baker kick) 6:11

Horicon - Michalovitz 5 run (pass failed) 4:40

Horicon - Steffen 1 run (Dickinson kick) 2:41

Horicon - Apfelbeck 10 run (Dickinson kick) 11:55

Horicon - FG 32 Dickinson (4:48)

Columbus - Hayes 23 pass from Baker (pass failed) 2:28

TEAM STATISTICS

First downs - H 12, C 11 . Rushing (Att.-Yds.) - H 43-127, C 30-183. Passing yards - H 58, C 80. Passes (Comp.-Att.-Int.) - H 4-15-1, C 6-20-3. Penalties-yards - H 6-33, C 7-55. Fumbles-lost - H 1-0, C 0-0.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

Rushing: H - Apfelbeck 25-91-1, C - Molnar 11-112-1. Passing: H - Michalovitz 3-14-29-1-0, C - Baker 6-12-80-1-1. Receiving: H - Ruka 3-29, C - Hayes 3-72-1.