CAIRO, Ga. — It was just the kind of start Steve Devoursney hoped his team would provide.

And just the kind of finish, too.

The Cairo Syrupmakers scored on their first two offensive plays of the game and pounded the visiting Columbus Blue Devils 46-7 Friday night at West Thomas Stadium.

Cairo improved to 4-2 on the season and 4-0 in Region 1-AAAA with its fourth straight win. Columbus fell to 2-3 for the season and 1-2 in the region.

“It was a good night,’ Devoursney said. “The offense scored the first two times we touched the ball, the defense did a good job stopping them and the special teams gave us a short field all night.”

The Syrupmakers defense came up with the game’s first critical play of the night, forcing Blue Devils quarterback Donovan Carter to fumble on fourth down at the Columbus 48-yard line. On Cairo’s first play, Tay Solomon shot through the line for a 47-yard touchdown run.

Then Cairo’s special teams got into the act, blocking Sean Miller’s punt. That led to Matthew Peters’ 15-yard scoring jaunt on the next play. 

In 16 seconds of possession, the Syrupmakers had 14 points.

With 2:55 left in the first quarter, Robert Baker found Nick Gosier over the middle on fourth down. Gosier turned on the jets and outraced the Columbus defense for a 37-yard touchdown and a 20-0 lead.

The Syrupmakers, who never punted in the game, ended the half with Baker’s 5-yard scoring toss to Earnest Taylor and Noah Jones’ 37-yard field goal for a 30-0 cushion.

Cairo’s defense held Columbus to minus-5 yards rushing for the first two quarters. The Blue Devils racked up more yards in penalties (69) than in total offense (61) for the first half.

The strong start came as a mild surprise to Devoursney, who admitted he couldn’t tell before the game how ready his team was to play.

“It was big,” he said of the fast start. “We jumped out 20-0 and it felt like we were sitting there a little bit. But finally we got it going and kept it going, which was good to see.”

After watching his team hang on to survive Westover’s rally the week before, Devoursney this time got to see his Syrupmakers put the game away quickly. Jones’ 32-yard field goal capped a 10-play drive to open the third quarter. Raylen Brown’s interception two plays later turned into Peters’ TD from 8 yards out on the very next snap.

With 8:08 left in the third quarter, the Syrupmakers had a comfortable 40-0 margin.

“We could have relaxed and not do what we’re supposed to do,” Devoursney said. “But they finished what we started, probably for the first time this year. That was good to see.”

Baker ended the scoring with a strike to Cameron Goosby, who darted through the Columbus for a 36-yard touchdown with 5:05 remain in the third period. 

Columbus did not cross midfield against the Syrupmakers defense until the 2:05 mark of the third on Carter’s 35-yard hookup with Ian Rome. 

That drive ended on Carter’s 4-yard touchdown pass with 11:06.

Through the three quarters — before the running clock was invoked in the fourth — the first team offense rolled up 309 yards of offense and 13 first downs. For the game, the defense forced four turnovers and limited Columbus to 100 total yards. The special teams blocked one punt and partially tipped another.

“All three phases showed up,’ Devoursney said. “It’s about time. Hopefully we can keep this going and continue as we keep going forward.”

Cairo hosts Carver-Columbus on Oct. 5.

Editor Pat Donahue can be reached at (229) 226-2400 ext. 1806.