Coldwater came to town last Friday night to play the Eagles on homecoming. This was something they were good at because they seem to be the opponent of choice for such occasions. The Cougars were outmanned at every position from Coach( they fired the head coach Tuesday before the game - the girls basketball coach is in charge for the rest of the season) to waterboy. They had 6 or 7 fans that made the trip. You might think with all this they wouldn't play hard or maybe play dirty because they had to know how it would end. These players and coaches from Coldwater played as hard as they could from beginning to end. They never once gave up and played with true sportsmanship to a man. It was nice to see young men and adults maintain their poise and self-control when things didn't go the way they wanted it to. They may not be winning games but they are building young men with character.

The Eagles scored on a Lee Swindle pass to Aaron Purnell with 1:38 left in the first quarter. Casey Henderson converted the pat to put Eupora ahead 7-0. Jeremy Sherman blocked a punt and recovered the ball on the Cougar 1 yard line. Jackie Hankins punched it in from there. Henderson's pat was good and Eupora was up 14-0. With 8:53 left in the second quarter Swindle hit Terrance Gary with a short pass and he put on a few moves and raced 63 yards for the score. The extra point failed, leaving the score 20 to 0.

In second half Justin Cooper blocked another Coldwater punt giving Eupora the ball on the Cougar 13 yard line. Homerel Sullivan scored from 6 yards out. The pat failed again making the score 26 to 0. Cornelius Windrick intercepted a Coldwater pass giving the Eagles ball possession on the 50. The Eagles drove down the field with Sullivan running it in again from 13 yards out. Henderson connected on the pat to finish the scoring. Eupora 33 Coldwater 0.

Eupora had 365 total yards for the night. Swindle was 8 for 15 passing for 171 yards. Aaron Purnell was the leading receiver with 4 catches 79 yards. The Eagles had 194 yards rushing with Jackie Hankins leading the way with 21 carries for 108 yards.

Eupora, Ackerman and Water Valley all began division play with wins. Coldwater, Hamilton and Bruce with losses. It looks like it will be another fun year in division play. If the Eagles continue to improve and win inside the division it will probably be another showdown with the Indians in three weeks. First Eupora has to deal with Kossuth and Hamilton. Kossuth won't be a pushover, last week they defeated Itawamba AHS who beat Water Valley in week one. Please come out and support the Eagles.