Coming off a 43-14 loss to Jonesboro, Eastside played like it had something to prove as the Eagles beat the other Eagles from Eagle’s Landing 24-7 at homecoming on Saturday night at Sharp Stadium.

Eagle’s Landing started the game off with a great kickoff return, giving them the ball at the EHS 31. Five plays later they were in the end zone.

Eastside got the ball back and looked to even the score. Junior quarterback Austin Holloway rifled a pass to junior receiver Josh Sims for a seven-yard pickup. On the following play Holloway saw Stokes with a man beat on a wheel route down the sideline, but the ball was underthrown and picked off.

Eagle’s Landing picked up a false start to begin the drive, and Eastside forced a three-and-out on defense. The punt was high, bobbled and bounced back into the end zone, and Eastside managed to recover it for the tying touchdown.

After getting the ball back Eagle’s Landing picked up a first down in three plays, but then Eastside’s defense tightened up and got a stop on third down. Eagle’s Landing elected to go for it in their own territory, and Eastside head coach Troy Hoff called a timeout.

Eagle’s Landing then came out in punt formation, but it was a fake punt pass and Eagle’s Landing was able to draw a pass interference on the play for a first down. When they got into the red zone, Eastside’s defense didn’t break and they forced the opposition into fourth-and-long. Going for it, Eagle’s Landing’s quarterback was flushed right out of the pocket, but he managed to fire a pass to the end zone toward a receiver, but it was too far in front and Eastside forced a turnover on downs.

Eastside would score on its next possession. Stokes sped off for a 25-yard scamper and Andrew Henderson picked up eight yards following Stokes’s run. A holding penalty after a 10-yard completion by Holloway put the Eagles back at the Eagle’s Landing 36-yard line.

Sims was able to draw a pass interference penalty as he went deep and would’ve caught a touchdown had he not been interfered with. Penalties backed the Eagles up but Stokes got the yardage back and then some with a 27-yard run that set up a Holloway/Sims four-yard touchdown pass. Holloway threw the ball into coverage, but Sims cut in front of the defender to score.

Eastside managed to recover a muffed kickoff to get the ball back in EHS territory. Holloway was intercepted again at the EHS 33-yard line, but Eastside got the ball back two plays later when Caleb Allen reached in front of an offensive player for the interception and returned it to Eastside’s 15-yard line.

The Eagles were forced into a three-and-out, but managed to connect on the field goal attempt to take a 17-7 lead with 8:22 to play in the second quarter.

Again Eagle’s Landing attempted to go for it on fourth down, and again they were stopped short. Holloway would run for a 32-yard score to give the Eagles a 24-7 lead that stood for the rest of the game.

To hear what head coach Troy Hoff has to say about the game, come check out the Coach's Show every Monday at Tubby Tom's, 7:00 p.m.