BERRY – After a heartbreaking loss last week, the Cold Springs Eagles tried to rebound this week as they traveled to Fred Webster Stadium to take on the eager Berry Wildcats. This was the first meeting between the programs since 1999, where Cold Springs lost 48-22, tying the series 4-4.
Cold Springs won the coin toss and elected to receive the kickoff. The butterflies seemed to prove just enough to cause a quick fumble on the Eagle’s second snap. As the Cold Springs defense settled in, causing a 4th and 12, Berry’s senior gunslinger, James Raines stepped into the pocket of the blitzing Eagles, and delivered a 32-yard bullet touchdown to junior wide out, Christian Emberg. Berry then missed their 2-point conversion, resulting in 6-0 lead, with 10:19 in the first quarter.
Cold Springs’ own stud, senior Jarett Elliot, began the next drive on his own 37-yard line, but the jitters continued for the Eagles as they fumbled yet again, leaving Berry with great field possession on the Eagle’s 37-yard line. Raines moved the ball fluently to Cold Springs’ 11-yard line, where senior River Banks made a leaping swat to cause a turnover on downs for Berry.
Cold Springs seniors Nicholas Rollo and Fisher Willoughby began their rushing onslaught for the evening, slashing up to midfield, before being forced to punt back to the Wildcats. Junior Demarcus Johnson and freshman Isaac Darty both contributed to Berry’s ground game, before coughing the ball back up to the Eagles. Penalties and incompletions made up the next offensive drive for Cold Springs as the two teams played field position. Cold Springs’ sophomore star, Peyton Parsons, recorded his first of two sacks on the night on the next drive. Not to be outdone, Berry’s offense answered with seven straight pass attempts, connecting on five of them; ending on a 13-yard lob pass from Rainer to senior Dalton Terry. After yet another missed 2-point conversion, the Wildcats took a 12-0 lead with 9:05 left in the second quarter.
The Eagles’ Rollo helped move the ball back into scoring position with back-to-back 11-yard runs, before Elliot scrambled to hit a 14-strike to Willoughby, narrowing the lead to 12-7, with 2:02 left in the half. On the following possession, junior Kevin Brakesfield made a leap to intercept Raines’ pass, tip toeing 26 yards back down the sideline to the Wildcats’ 9-yard line. Rollo then made quick work of punching the ball in with two carries. The Eagles ended the first half, by scoring 14 points in 23 seconds, 12-14.
As the tensions grew at the kickoff of the second half, the jitters seemed to shift to the home team as senior Eagle Trevor Slayton recovered the first handoff fumble of Berry, on the Wildcat’s 21-yard line. Cold Springs then committed double false starts and bobbled a snap, but Slayton was able to save the drive. From 36 yards out, Slayton split the uprights with sniper precision as he gave the Eagles a five-point lead, 12-17, with 8:25 left in the third quarter.
As Willoughby pulled double duty on offense and defense for Cold Springs throughout the game, he made his most pivotal stand in the third, where he harassed Raines, causing a turnover on downs, giving the reigns back to the Eagles. Cold Springs’ Slayton made his presence known again with two tackles for losses on the next drive, but it wasn’t enough. Raines then connected with Terry again for a 31-yard TD. Raines followed up with a successful 2-point conversion pass to Emberg to take the lead, 20-17, with 2:13 left in the third.
Cold Springs workhorse Rollo answered with six carries on the next drive for 43 yards. His last run, a 17-yard tight rope run down the sideline to take the lead with 11:05 left in the game, made it 20-24.
As the home team atmosphere provided the boost, Raines and Johnson took control of Berry’s offense from their own 26-yard line, methodically working the clock down to 6:34, before Raines delivered the final blow with a 32-yard dagger back to Emberg. The Wildcats took a 26-24 lead, which proved too much for the Eagles to overcome. A last valiant effort was made with 1:34 left to go, but penalties and two unsportsmanlike conduct flags sealed the deal on Elliot and the Eagles, on the muggy August Friday night.
Cold Springs will search for their first win next week, as they host Tarrant.
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