2015 Cold Springs Eagles

One stinkin’ point.

That was all that stood between Cold Springs and its first playoff win since 1993 in an opening-round showdown last November.

Instead, the spoils went to Gaston in a 27-26 nightmare that’s yet to quit haunting the Eagles’ Levi Harris.

“There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about that game,” the senior said. “I think about it every night before I go to bed. It’s just stuck with me ever since.”

Eighth-year head coach Rod Elliott has had more than enough time to ponder the defeat as well. He felt Cold Springs was the better team in the tilt but thought the loss ultimately came down to a lapse in special teams, an area of emphasis for 2015.

The Eagles had entered their first playoff appearance since 2004 as winners of three in a row and five of their last six.

“We were really peaking at the right time last year and kind of let it get away from us,” Elliott said. “But that’s part of it. Sometimes you have bad days. How you learn from those things that happen in your life tells you what kind of person you’re going to be.”

Nine returning starters on offense and a handful on defense have Cold Springs hoping to keep its steady progression in full swing. Since snapping a 35-game losing streak, the program has finished the first three seasons of Elliott’s second stint as head coach with three, six and eight wins, respectively.

The latter was the most of any school in Cullman County.

That’s all good and well, but an early exit is no longer good enough. This year, the Eagles are looking to not only host a playoff game but make a deep run.

Just how deep are they thinking?

“I think we’ve got a good enough team if we keep our heads on straight, we can go all the way,” senior Drew McClendon said.

Class 2A, Region 6-mate Tanner could have something to say about that. The Rattlers made it the quarterfinals last fall following back-to-back state championships and were tabbed the No. 3 team in 2A in the state’s preseason rankings.

Elliott said Tanner is probably the team to beat this year, not just in the region, but the state. He’s not about to sleep on Tarrant, Addison, Falkville or Sumiton Christian, either.

Instead of whining about being in the same region as Tanner and Addison — “two of the best small schools in North Alabama” — Elliott is embracing it. He pleans to use both to see where his squad stacks up.

“Addison’s Addison. Their program is so established,” he said of Cold Springs’ Week 6 opponent. “We’ve got to get to the point where we can beat a team like Addison. We haven’t proven we can do that yet. That’s the next step we’re taking.”

The Eagles could eventually take a step into the state rankings, too. Their four votes were the only ones collected by a local school.

However minimal, Elliott was honored by the recognition.

“It doesn’t happen a whole lot for us,” he said. “I view it kind of this year as probably a reward for what they did last year. Maybe they can climb up into that top 10 before the year’s over with.”

Nic Rollo, Christian Crandall and Fisher Willoughby will receive the bulk of the carries in a crowded backfield that includes Harris and second-year quarterback Cayde Elliott. The elder Elliott called Rollo an “athletic thumper” who will “thump you and then outrun you.” He said Crandall, already a home run threat on offense and in the return game, has beefed up in the weight room and will add cornerback to his many hats.

McClendon (tight end), Tyler Rollo (lineman), Wyatt Swann (center), Jimmy McSpadden (lineman) and Justin Jones (fullback) bring valuable experience to the offense.

“It all starts with the linemen,” McClendon said. “They’ve got to have trust in the linemen before they can actually run the ball. Our linemen are going to take care of them as long as they take care of us.”

Willoughby, an All-State second-team defensive back, is accompanied by fellow returners Jon Campbell (lineman), McClendon (middle linebacker), Harris (linebacker) and Blake Harbison (linebacker) on defense.

Trevor Slayton will share kicking duties with McClendon and play some cornerback. Sophomore Kevin Brakefield will serve as punter.

“We go for it a lot after we score, but we’d rather kick,” Elliott said with a laugh. “This year, Trevor’s went to three or four camps, and he’s been really solid.”

Colton Pate, Sean Dunn, River Banks, Seth Edgeworth and Brakefield also factor into Elliott’s plans, most at more than one position.

For all the leadership Cold Springs lost when Austin Moore, Collin Day, Zac Ellison, Jake Haynes and Mitchell Peed graduated, the Eagles appear to have just as many players — if not more — willing to fill the voids.

“That just means more people’s got to step up, take on that role,” Harris said. “It’s big shoes to fill. Somebody’s got to step up and do it.”

Aug. 21 at Brilliant

Aug. 28 vs. Danville

Sept. 4 at Southeastern*

Sept. 11 vs. Tanner*

Sept. 18 at Falkville*

Sept. 25 at Vinemont

Oct. 2 vs. Addison*

Oct. 9 OPEN

Oct. 16 vs. Sumiton Christian*

Oct. 23 at Tarrant*

Oct. 29 vs. Holly Pond (Thursday)

* Class 2A, Region 6 game

‰ Who: Rod Elliott

‰ Previous positions: N/A

‰ Years at Cold Springs: Entering eighth (2002-05; 2012-)

‰ Overall record: 39-34

‰ Region record: 23-25

‰ Last year: 8-3, 4-2

‰ Region titles: 0

‰ Playoff appearances: 3

‰ Playoff record: 0-3

‰ Advanced past first round: 0

‰ Best season: 8-3 in 2003 and 2014

‰ Worst season: 3-7 in 2005 and 2012