BREMEN, Ala. – Friday night was homecoming for the Cold Springs but despite a relentless effort in the second half, the Eagles couldn’t overcome an early Appalachian lead and fell 37-28 at home.
Turnovers and penalties plagued Cold Springs in the first half. The Eagles turned the ball over on downs to end their first possession and after forcing a punt from Appalachian, the Eagles muffed the punt to give it right back. Appalachian took advantage of the turnover, running one in from 7 yards out a few plays later to take an early 7-0 lead.
Cold Springs’s offense moved the ball effectively throughout the night and had the ball deep in Appalachian territory before an interception ended another Eagles drive early. A 55-yard touchdown pass and 2-point conversion on the ensuing possession made it a 15-0 game midway through the second quarter but once they got the ball back, the Eagles began driving again. Unfortunately for the home crowd, a fumble at the 15-yard line resulted in the third Cold Springs turnover of the half and allowed Appalachian to take a 15-0 advantage into the halftime break.
Appalachian extended its lead on the opening possession of the third quarter with a 24-yard touchdown run that put the Eagles down 23-0 early in the second half. Things started to click for Cold Springs after that. Appalachian recovered an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff but just a few plays later, Roberto Ayala intercepted a pass to get the ball back to the Eagles offense and spark the Cold Springs sideline. Ayden Alexander took it from there, breaking free for a 33-yard touchdown run that trimmed the lead to 23-6 midway through the third.
The Eagles recovered an onside kick of their own on the ensuing kickoff and on his very next carry, Alexander went 26 yards for another score and cut the Appalachian lead to 23-14. Cold Springs converted yet another onside kick after the touchdown to regain possession and drove the ball down to the goal line where Ayala punched one in from 5 yards out to make it a 23-20 with less than four minutes to play in the third quarter.
Appalachian took possession and used the remainder of the third quarter to drive down and get on the scoreboard once again, this time with an 11-yard touchdown with just one second remaining in the third to make it 30-20 headed into the final frame.
A turnover on downs gave the ball back to Appalachian early in the fourth but the Eagles forced a punt of their own to get the ball back. Cold Springs hit a pair of big pass plays on its next possession, including a 27-yard touchdown pass from Brodi Williams to Jordan Lacey and the ensuing 2-point conversion cut the lead to 30-28 midway through the fourth quarter. Appalachian fumbled on its ensuing possession and gave the Eagles an opportunity to take a late lead but an interception on a double pass in Appalachian territory ended the drive for Cold Springs and on the very next play, a 79-yard touchdown run put the game away for Appalachian.
Alexander finished with 235 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries in the loss and also caught three passes for 23 yards. The Eagles finished the game with four turnovers in the red zone.
Cold Springs moves to 3-3 on the year and will have next week off before getting back into region play at Winston County Oct. 11.
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