BRILLIANT – From the opening kickoff of the 2015 high school football season, Cold Springs aimed to prove thier impressive 2014 campaign was no fluke and, safe to say, mission accomplished.
Starting with a first and ten from thier own 35 yard line, QB Cayde Elliott turned and stuck the ball in the gut of Nic Rollo who rambled up the sideline for a 65 yard touchdown.
The PAT split the uprights and just 24 seconds into the game, the Eagles held a 7-0 lead and they never looked back.
Following the Cold Springs score, the Brilliant Tigers quickly went three and out, putting the ball back in the hands of the Eagles offense who were looking to find paydirt once more.
Christian Crandell got the drive started with a 15 yard carry into Tiger territory. From the Brilliant 45, Fisher Willoughby scampered 37 yards to the Tiger 8 setting up a first and goal. A penalty momentarily pushed the Eagles back but they quickly recovered with Crandell finding the end zone from 3 yards out, leading to a 14-0 advantage.
A short kick and decent return set up Brilliant at thier own 47.
The Tigers took to the air as quarterback Hayden Bryant looked to connect with Trevor Lynch over the middle but the ball wound up in the hands of Crandell and the Eagles were in business once more.
From thier own 25, Elliot tucked the ball and shot the gap for a 14 yard gain
Crandell followed with a 14 yard pick up of his own and the Eagles were again in Tiger territory.
Two plays later, Cold Springs dented the scoreboard for the third time in the quarter when Crandell scores for the second time, this one from 12 yards out.
Another three and out put the ball back in the hands of the red hot Eagles offense and they once again took advantage.
On the fourth play from scrimmage, Levi Harris took the ball up the middle and steam rolled a Brilliant defender on his way to a 22 yard touchdown run.
After the PAT, Cold Springs led Brilliant 28-0 with2:22 left in the first quarter, however, they were not done.
Brilliant looked as if they were going gain a bit of momentum when Bryant hit Lynch over the middle but a solid hit from Cold Springs jarred the ball loose and Lucas Gay pounced on it for the Eagles' fumble recovery.
The ensuing drive was the Rollo show as he carried the ball three times for a total of 41 yards including a 10 yard rush for the score.
The PAT was wide right as the Cold Springs Eagles took a 34-0 lead to the second quarter.
The Brilliant Tigers started the second quarter with the ball but were unable to mount any offense.
On third and sixteen, Bryant took to the air but the ball floated on him and was picked off by the Eagles. Five plays later, Rollo crossed the goal line for the third time, from five yards out, and Cold Springs final score of the game.
The Eagles took a commanding 41-0 lead to the locker room at halftime.
Instead of the normal 12 minute quarters, both head coaches agreed to shorten the third and fourth quarter to six minutes each as the second half kicked off.
Brilliant finally got on the board with 47.3 seconds left in the third when Anthony Sartain scored from two yards out.
The two point conversion was good and the score stood at 41-8 in favor of the Eagles. Brilliant would score once more in the fourth but it was not enough to clip the wings of the Cold Springs Eagles as they took the season opener 41-14.
