‘Landers ground game crushes Cosby
Published 8:10 am Tuesday, October 17, 2023
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders The Highlanders Auston Caraway (9) takes the second of his two first half Pick-6's to the house, this one from 25 yards out with 7:36 left in the second quarter. His first quarter pick went for 57 yards and gave Cloudland an early 6-0 lead that they never relinquished.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders The Highlanders Kyle Birchfield (7) steps through the diving tackle of Cosby’s Devonte Wigfall (6) on his way to his first of game high four touchdowns mid-way through the second quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Cloudland’s Auston Caraway (9) heads to the house with a Pick-6 at the 9:20 mark in the first quarter. The touchdown gave the Highlanders a 6-0 lead and they poured it on from there, winning 55-14 over the Eagles of Cosby.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders The Highlanders Kingston Cole (24) trips up Cosby’s Devonte Wigfall (6) in the backfield, for a loss of six, on an end-around early in the first quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Cloudland’s Jacob Stinnett (69) and another ‘Lander defender meet Cosby’s Cyler Davis (12) in the backfield and throw him for a loss early in the first quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders The Highlanders Landon Barnett(8) lays the lumber to Cosby’s Cyler Davis (12) dislodging the pass while Kyle Birchfield (7) was there for cleanup duty early in the first quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders After Auston Caraway’s (9) pick-6, the Highlanders Jacob Stinnett (69) kicks off for the second time in the first quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders The Highlanders Jacob Stinnett (69) locks onto Cosby’s Cyler Davis (12) and Kingston Cole (24) finishes the tackle after a short gain late in the first quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders The Highlanders Kyle Birchfield (7) takes the pitch from quarterback Bryce Birchfield (2) as Cloudland runs the sweep for big yardage late in the first quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders The Highlanders Kyle Birchfield (7) bowls over Cosby’s Cyler Davis (12) as he punches in the two-point conversion after his long touchdown run early in the second quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders The Highlanders Kyle Birchfield (7) dives for the goal line over Cosby’s Devonte Wigfall (6) but comes down just one yard shy on the play just over mid-way through the second quarter. Birchfield would score on the next play.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Cloudland’s Kyle Birchfield (7), Landon Barnett (8) and Grayson Cole (21) gang up and stop the Eagles Cyler Davis (12) short of the line to gain on a third down play late in the second quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Cloudland’s Bryce Birchfield (2) hands-off to Grayson Cole (21), who goes off right tackle and walks into the end zone for the two-point conversions with 0:56 seconds left in the second quarter, giving the Highlanders a 36-14 lead heading into the locker room at the half.
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STAR CORRESPONDENT
COSBY – The Cloudland Highlanders won their third consecutive game and fourth in the conference and took control of Region 1A with a 55-14 win over the Cosby Eagles at Virgil Ball Stadium on Friday night.
‘Landers defense strikes the opening blow
Auston Caraway opened the scoring by picking off a pass from freshman quarterback Oaklon Cameron and took it back 57 yards for the pick-six to give Cloudland (5-3, 4-0 conference) a 6-0 lead.
“This was my first pick six ever,” Caraway said. “When I got it, I really wanted to score. I think we dominated them on the front line and that was big for us. I can’t wait to see if we can win the conference.”
Cloudland rushed for 343 yards with senior RB Kyle Birchfield going for 234 yards and Grayson Cole added 77 ground yards on nine carries with a pair of touchdowns.
The Eagles came right back with a 31-yard scoring strike from Cameron to WR Trevor Larue to make it a 6-6 contest.
Second quarter offensive blitz opens huge lead for ‘Landers
Birchfield capped a 10-play, 74-yard drive with the first of his four touchdowns – this from 24 yards out for a 14-6 ‘Landers lead. Caraway struck again from his LB position, picking off Cameron once again and ran 25 yards to paydirt and a 20-6 lead.
Cosby (1-7, 0-4) gained a bit of momentum when Wigfall took a pitch and ran 65 yards down the home sideline for a touchdown that made it a 20-14 game after Cameron hit Wigfall with a two-point pass.
The ‘Landers took over from there with Cole scoring on a one-yard plunge and after a Cosby punt, Birchfield capped off an 84-yard drive with a one-yard score for a 36-14 Cloudland lead. Bryce Birchfield intercepted Cameron at midfield and Kyle Birchfield scored once again to make it a 42-14 halftime advantage.
“We have picked things up and have bonded as a team. Our linemen blocked very well tonight,” Birchfield said. “Our receivers block downfield very well. Auston’s interception gave us a big lift and with everyone buying in now we feel we’re ready for anything.”
Second half running clock doesn’t slow ‘Landers
Cloudland took the second half kickoff and marched 72 yards on eight running plays with Cole scoring on a three-yard run to stake the ‘Landers to a 48-14 lead. In the fourth quarter, Birchfield pulled off a nice run-pass option play and scored on a 64-yard run. Jacob Stinnett added the point after kick for the final margin of victory.
“We are playing with more confidence, were playing hard and tackling better on defense,” ‘Landers head coach Zac Benfield said. “We are playing with more discipline and have cut down the penalties which hurt us early on. A little success goes a long way with young men and they understand that if they prepare and practice hard all week, it pays off on Friday night. I’m proud of them.”
Cloudland 55-14
Cloudland 6 36 6 7 – 55
Cosby 6 6 0 0 – 14
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
Cl – Caraway 57 interception return (kick failed) 4:20
C – Wigfall 31 pass from Cameron (kick failed) :18
Second Quarter
Cl – K. Birchfield 24 run (K. Birchfield run) 7:54
Cl – Caraway 25 interception return (run failed) 7:36
C – Wigfall 65 run (Cameron pass to Wigfall) 7:18
Cl – Cole 1 run (K. Birchfield run) 4:11
Cl – K. Birchfield 1 run (G. Cole run) :56
Cl – K. Birchfield 2 run (kick failed) :00
Third Quarter
Cl – Cole 3 run (kick failed) 8:16
Fourth Quarter
Cl – K. Birchfield 64 run (Stinnett kick) 6:49
Individual Statistics
RUSHING
Cl – K. Birchfield 23-234, G. Cole 9-77, Peppers 4-32. C – Davis 3-2, Wigfall 1-65, Cameron 2- (-17), Baker 3-0, Manning 1-14, Shropshire 1-5, Holt 2-5.
PASSING
Cl – B. Birchfield 2-6 48 yds. 0 TD, 1 int. K. Birchfield 0-3. C – Cameron 11-22 129 yds. 1 TD, 3 ints.
RECEIVING
Cl – Caraway 1-5, Gouge 1-43. C – Larue 4-61, Wigfall 3-35, Shropshire 1-16, Davis 2-4, Manning 1-13
