Eagles fly to 3-0 with win against Titans 35-28

The South Cobb Eagles football team moved to 3-0 on the season after defeating the Northview Titans on a late game touchdown by standout running back Chris Beck. The game ultimately turned into a battle of Running Backs.

Beck, a senior, had three touchdowns on the night – to include the game winner.

“I was just trying to help my team,” said Beck. “We’ve got Hillgrove next week and I want to perform well there too”.

The game started with a relatively quick drive by Titans quarterback Evan Jacks. Eagles quarterback Stephon Masha answered with a drive of his own. Northview took the lead on a rushing touchdown by Titans running back Terrence Upshaw – the first of three on the night for him. Eagles return man, Jamal Thomas, answered with a 90-yard kickoff return to tie the game. However, just before the half, Upshaw scored his second touchdown from three yards out to give the Titans a 21-14 lead at the half.

Beck caught fire in the second half, starting with a 40-plus yard touchdown run to tie the score at 21.  An incredible, leaping interception by Eagles Senior corner back Josh Kimble gave the ball back to the offense. The Eagles were able to capitalize on the turnover on Beck’s second touchdown on the night. South Cobb took the lead 28-21 at the end of three quarters.

The Titans got a turnover, on a mishandled snap by Masha and Upshaw tied the game with his third score of the night. However, late in the fourth quarter, Beck willed himself into the end zone with some tough running to put the Eagles up for good.

Eagles Coach Ed Koester had little good to say about his team outside of Beck’s performance. “I’m not tired of winning, but we’re not going to make a habit of winning like this.”

“Like this” refers to late game-scoring to make up for lapses in defense early on in the game.

Titans Coach, Chad Davenport, admits it was a tough loss. “We changed a lot of personnel from last year... We’re trying to do what Coach Koester has done at South Cobb. He’s gotten his guys to believe that they can win and they’ve shown that they now how to win games late.”

The Eagles travel to Hillgrove next week to face a Hawks team that’s looking to make up for last season’s 20-19 loss to the Eagles.

“Hillgrove is a really tough opponent, and they waited for this game for a year now,” says Koester. It should be quite a matchup.