It was a tough road trip for the Copper Basin Cougars. The Eagles of East Literature had more size, height, and speed, players, and considering Copper Basin had a 3 hour plus road trip, a definitive home field advantage.

Running a variation of the Wing-T, speedy Eagles were led by Jasper Howard and Shawn Garrett and relied on a fast ground game. The Eagles mounted up 258 yards on the ground mainly on big plays, cruising to a 48-0 victory.

Copper Basin (1-5, 0-2) looks for a shot at redemption as they host region foe Whitwell (1-5, 0-2).

FIRST QUARTER

The Cougars won the toss and elected to receive, starting out from their own 31. A third-and-short situation failed, forcing them to punt. The Eagles set up shop at their own 36, but were also forced into a third-and-short situation and converted near midfield. The next play East broke loose, advancing on the ground to the Basin 11. They scored shortly thereafter, on a Shawn Garrett run making it 7-0 with 7:41 left in the quarter.

Garrett struck again roughly a minute later, as his Eagles regained possession of the ball and scored on a pass from Eagle Quarterback Jasper Howard for a 51-yard touchdown. With 6:37 left, it was 14-0 East.

Basin returned the kickoff to its own 32. Quarterback Eric Sisson completed a pass to Zach White on the swing route, and White juked and jived his way to the 50 for an 18-yard gain. Unfortunately, two drops from Cougar receivers forced a punt situation. East struck again, as a 36-yard run set up a 16-yard touchdown run on a wingback dive. The extra point was no good, making it 20-0 EL with 3:34 left in the quarter.

SECOND QUARTER

After another unsuccessful offensive series for the Cougars gave East the ball at its own 37. East converted a first down to move at midfield, setting up another Shawn Garrett touchdown run, this one from roughly 35 yards out. The extra point was missed again, making it 26-0 Eagles with 11:46 left in the half.

Jerad Potter and his Cougars kept battling, as the junior back plowed his way to the 31 on a tough, hard kickoff return. Offensive woes continued, and Basin punted it back, giving the Eagles at their own 37.A good stop by Brady Miller capped a solid defensive stand that forced East Literature to punt. This was East’s first punt of the evening. The Cougar special teams brought the ball back to midfield, their best starting field position all night.

Cody Monteith found an open lane, picking up a first down for Basin on a 13-yard run. The next play, Monteith performed an encore, toting the rock all the way down to the East 22. After being sacked for a loss, Sisson dialed up Justin Teems to advance Basin back to the 20. Zach White barreled his way down to the 10 on two carries. Sisson then connected with Colby Panter to march down to the Eagle 1. The East defense bowed its back, leaving Basin empty handed by forcing a turnover on downs.

East started on their own 5, and picked up two first downs to advance to its own 20 and then to the 40, respectively. A good team tackle by Basin knocked the Eagles back a few yards On the next play, Matt Harrington sacked Jasper Howard to make it 3rd and a mile. East battled back, finding an open lane to pick up the first down. They scored again shortly thereafter on a 30 yard touchdown run. A 2-point attempt was good, making it 34-0 With 2:15 left before half. Basin picked up two first downs on the ensuing drive, as Sisson completed a pass to Panter to advance to midfield, and then hooked up with Austin Dickey to advance to the East 35 just before halftime.

THIRD QUARTER

East came back swinging after halftime, as Shawn Garrett ran the opening kickoff return back for a touchdown. The extra point made it 41-0 EL with 11:45 left in the quarter. Both teams exchanged possessions after the Garrett touchdown, as Basin punted and East Literature was forced to a turnover on downs. Credit Brady Miller with a tackle for a loss that forced the fourth down situation, and then the turnover.

The Eagles scored again with 4:22 left in the quarter, after intercepting a pass and returning it for a touchdown. The extra point made it 48-0 EL. Basin started from its own 8 on the ensuing drive. Sisson completed a pass to Panter for 10 yards, but was eventually forced to punt right at the end of the quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

East started at their own 37. Solid tackles by Aaron Mealer and Jeremy Gribble set up a Matt Ray pass deflection, forcing an Eagle punt. Both teams would exchange possessions and substitute players freely until time expired.