Columbia Academy 26, Eagleville 21: 5 keys to the game

Kenneth Schott
For The DNJ
Eagleville and QB Ethan Cobb (12) dropped a 26-21 decision at Columbia Academy Friday.

In a battle between two of the top teams in Class 2A, Columbia Academy edged Eagleville 26-21 to remain undefeated in Region 5-2A.

The Eagles fell to 6-2, 2-2 in the region. Eagleville can finish in third in the region by winning its remaining games, against Loretto and Summertown.

The Eagles had a 14-7 first-quarter lead and but Columbia Academy scored 19 unanswered points to take a commanding 26-14 lead. 

Eagleville mounted a final drive in the fourth quarter to cut the gap to 26-21 but it wasn’t enough.

Here are five keys to the game:

Coffin kick lead to score

The Eagles scored their first touchdown midway through the first quarter to tie the game 7-7 when Antonio Turrentine scored on a 2-yard run.

The kickoff went into the corner, around Columbia Academy’s 20 yard line, and it died there.

The Eagles recovered the ball and regained possession.

They capitalized, with another quick touchdown. Ethan Cobb ran it in from the one yard line to give Eagleville a 14-7 lead.

“It was a deep kickoff, and fortunately for us they didn’t have anybody back there,” said Eagleville coach Floyd Walker. “Our kids busted their tails to get down there and recover it.”

Davidson hard to stop

The Eagles had a hard time stopping Columbia Academy running back Trey Davidson. He had 158 yards rushing and scored two touchdowns. He had 77 yards on his first two attempts.

“There were a few things that we didn’t do schematically,” said Walker. “That kid’s a good player. He broke some tackles. But I think there were some breakdowns defensively, too.”

Comeback effort

Columbia Academy led 19-14 early in the fourth quarter and had the ball first and goal inside the Eagleville 10.

But after three running plays and a passing play, the Bulldogs turned it over on downs and didn’t get in the end zone.

The Bulldogs did manage to score another touchdown on their next possession, however. But the Eagles came charging back and mounted an 80-yard drive. Ethan Cobb completed clutch passes on fourth downs to keep the drive going, and the Eagles got into the end zone with just two minutes remaining to cut the gap to 26-21.

“If you take away anything from this game, it’s that these kids won’t quit,” said Walker.

Scrambling Cobb

Cobb also picked up some crucial yards with his legs. He scrambled several times for first downs. In the first half he had 50 yards on four carries. He wound up with 88 rushing yards in the game.

Region losses separated by two possessions

The Eagles lost a close game to first-place Lewis County (29-21) earlier this season, so against the two top teams in the region, they have just been one possession short.
“We’ve gone toe-to-toe with two really great football teams,” said Walker. “In the back of their minds, they know they can play with anybody in the state.”