CLEVELAND – It was a tough night for the Cold Spring Eagles as they hit the road to take on the Cleveland Panthers in the second to last game of the 2016 regular season. The Eagles’ offense was unable to get much going on the chilly night and fell to the Panthers 28-0.
Cold Springs started the game with the ball and looked like they were going to have some success on the ground thanks to Nic Rollo, Cayde Elliott and Fisher Willoughby as the three-headed rushing attack led the Eagles into Cleveland territory, but the drive stalled at the Panther 31 when a fourth-and-11 came up short giving Cleveland the ball on downs.
Starting from their own 30, the Panthers quickly moved the ball up the field thanks to Nicholas Randolph, who had 40 yards rushing on the drive. Quarterback Caleb Collum finished the drive, breaking the plane from 5 yards out. The Panthers added the PAT to take an early 7-0 lead.
With the start of the second quarter, the Eagles were forced to attempt a punt that was blocked and set Cleveland up with great field position at the Cold Springs 20. Two plays later Collum led the Panthers into the end zone again, this time from 14 yards out. After the PAT, the Panthers led 14-0.
Another three-and-out ended the Eagles’ next drive, giving Cleveland the ball via punt at their own 28. Randolph led the drive with four carries, including a 35-yard touchdown run. The PAT made the score 21-0 as both teams headed to the halftime break.
Cleveland got the ball to open the second half and the made the most of it. On first-and-10 from the Cold Springs 40, Collum found Parker Gilliland streaking down the near sideline for the 40-yard touchdown to make the score 28-0.
Cold Springs played hard for the entirety of the game, pushing until the last tick melted off the clock, but they were unable to knock off the Panthers at home. Cold Springs will end their regular season next week at Danville as they look to pick up some momentum heading into the first round of the 2A state playoffs in two weeks.
Copyright 2016 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
