In what might have been the biggest game in North Greene football history the Huskies just could not come up with a play when they needed it most and fell to the Cosby Eagles 26-14.
The Eagles improved their record to 8-2 and 5-0 in Region 1-1A play and claimed the program’s first ever region championship, while North Green dropped to 6-3 and 4-1 in region play.
North Greene coach Eric Tilson said, “That’s the thing about championship games, it comes down to execution. They executed, and we didn’t on key plays.”
Even with the loss the Huskies will host Harriman in the first round of the Class 1A playoffs and they will have a chance to win seven games for the first time in program history.
North Greene received the opening kickoff, but after a nice return by Brandon Weems out to midfield the Huskies couldn’t take advantage of the good field position and turned the ball over on downs.
The Eagles picked up three first downs before Matthew McMahan hit Devonte Wigfall down the sideline for 34-yard touchdown pass. Caleb Gomez added the extra point and the Eagles had the early lead at 7-0 with 5:32 yet to play in the first quarter.
The Huskies moved the ball near the redzone at the 21-yard line, and it looked as if they might tie the game but Thomas Darnell’s pass into the endzone was intercepted by Wigfall to end the scoring threat.
After the touchback the Eagles went on an eight-play, 80-yard drive. Most of that yardage came from running back David Baker with Baker scoring from 10-yards out. Gomez’ kick was good and the Eagles were up 14-0 with 3:37 remaining in the first half.
The Huskies went three-and-out again and the Eagles were looking to take a three-score lead, but Brandon Weems jumped the route on a short pass in the flat and returned it 51 yards the other way for a pick-six. Juan Soto split the uprights for the PAT and the Huskies closed the gap to 14-7 with 48 seconds to until halftime.
The Huskie defense forced a turnover on downs to open the second half and moved the ball into Eagle territory to the 32-yard line, but a fumble by the Huskies ended another scoring opportunity.
After the fumble recovery Cosby moved inside the Huskies’ 10-yard line aided by two big runs by Baker and two horse collar penalties. It looked as if Baker was going to score again but Brandon Weems was trailing on the play and striped Baker of the ball. The ball rolled into the endzone and was recovered Dash Stigen for the touchback and the turnover.
The score after three quarters remained 14-7.
Early in the fourth quarter McMahan went deep again to Wigfall, this time for 58 yards and another touchdown. The Eagles were guilty of an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and the kick from the 25-yard line was short, but the Eagle were now up 20-7.
North Greene just couldn’t convert on third down, 0-13 on third down conversions on the night, and turned the ball over again on downs while Cosby scored a late touchdown to increase the score to 26-7.
Darnell threw a pass in the endzone that Brandon Weems came up with for the score to give the Huskies a glimmer of hope with 2:05 to play, closing the gap to 26-14. The onside kick failed and that sealed the deal for the Eagles..
Tilson said, “There’s still a potential for a lot of football to be played. This Was a championship game, I’m disappointed but I’m proud of our guys. One team has to win and one team has to lose. We just didn’t make enough plays to win this ballgame.”
David Baker had a big game for Cosby, rushing for 184 yards on 27 carries. McMahan threw for 170 yard and two TD’s, both to Wigfall.
The Huskies were led on offense by Darnell with 51 yards on the ground and 108 in the air with the touchdown to Weems.
