The Eastside Eagles (4-1-1, 2-0 region 4 AAAA) could not have had a better night for their 2016 Homecoming game. The seniors for the Eagles seemed to show up all night with big plays. They took on, and took it to the Druid Hills Red Devils (2-4, 0-2 region 4 AAAA) in what seemed to be a long night for the visiting team.
The Eagles received the ball first starting with good field position at the Eagles 41-yard line. Senior quarterback Austin Holloway threw a nice pass to sophomore Jamari Brown who picked up a few yards after the catch for a first down. After a penalty and two incomplete passes, the Eagles were forced to punt. The Red devils were pinned deep in their own territory. Senior Brady Dial rushed inside on the first play and got a sack, which seemingly set the momentum for the defense. The Red Devils could not gain any ground and were forced to punt.
After a short punt, the Eagles had great field position starting at the Red Devil’s 31-yard line. Holloway found Senior Josh Sims twice, one being for 13 yards and a first down. Sophomore Taylor Carter put the Eagles on the board with a 7-yard touchdown run, putting the Eagles up 7-0.
Ensuing kickoff, the Red Devils muffed the return and fumbled it right into the hands of Senior Caleb Allen, starting the Eagles at the Red Devil 29 yard line. Holloway wasted no time finding Senior Eric Stokes on a streak play down the sideline for a 28 yard touchdown. 14-0 Eagles. The Red Devils started at their own 26 yard line, but two plays went for minus seven yards with only a few yards in between forcing a punt. Eagles starting from the Red Devil’s 44 yard line came out spreading the defense. Carter had three carries for 16 yards and the touchdown on a drive with two first downs before scoring. With 2:57 left in the first quarter, the Eagles were up 21-0.
After getting one first down, the Red Devils punt short again only about 2o yards. After a penalty on the Red Devils, the Eagles started at the Red Devil 41-yard line. Holloway connected with Stokes for 15 yards and a first down. Senior Anthony Brown chipped in with two carries for 14 yards while Carter finished the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run. After one quarter, the Eagles were up 28-0 on the Red Devils.
The sloppy play continued for the Red Devils. They went 3 and out quickly, and the Eagles took advantage again starting at the 50-yard line. Senior Davin Griffieth caught a 24-yard pass from Holloway in the drive and Carter ran the last eight yards in the drive scoring a touchdown making the score 35-0 Eagles. The Red Devils had one nice play for the night. They connected on a 46-yard catch and run, but ended up turning the ball over on downs. The Eagles started at their own 6-yard line and they quickly dug their way out of the hole. Brown started the drive with a 10-yard run, Carter ran for 41 yards on the drive while catching one for 14 yards, and Sims capped off the drive with a 29-yard run with 2:55 left in the 2nd quarter making it 42-0 Eagles.
The Red Devils just could not get out of their own way fumbling the kickoff again allowing the Eagles to recover and start at the Red Devil’s 32-yard line. The Eagles stalled by a penalty could not get in the end zone before the half, and missed a field goal as the clock went to zero.
Beginning the third quarter, the Red Devils fumbled after getting only their second first down of the game, and the Eagles’ Dial returned the ball 48 yards down to the 3-yard line. Brown did the rest from three yards away pushing the score to a 49-0 rout. The Eagles defense took over the rest of the game. Junior Mareka Reid and sophomore Jaylen Atlow combined for three sacks while there were several plays of gang tackling behind the line of scrimmage by seniors Cameron Gaither and Gabe Bragg that halted drives.
The fourth quarter was all about the running game for the Eagles. Junior Jaiden Amedee had 6 carries for 53 yards in the 4th quarter, keeping it entertaining, but neither team scored and the clock ran out. The Eagles handled this game and their Homecoming with ease, and look forward to playing an away conference game against the Henry County Warhawks (0-5, 0-1 region 4 AAAA) who are still looking for their first win of the year.
