BREMEN, Ala. – Ethan Day ran 10 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 27 seconds left Friday night, then added the 2-point conversion as Cold Springs defeated Pisgah 42-34 in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs.
Day and quarterback Brandon Chasteen each ran for three touchdowns. Cold Springs trailed 26-20 entering the fourth quarter and scored on all three of its possessions in the period to advance to the second round.
Tucker Freeman’s fourth-down sack ended Pisgah’s opening drive.
Cooper Johnson, Day, Blake Phillips and Cason Alexander helped move Cold Springs to the 2-yard line, where Chasteen kept the ball for the opening touchdown.
The conversion failed, leaving Cold Springs ahead 6-0 with 5:26 left in the first quarter.
Pisgah converted twice on fourth down before tying the game on a 21-yard touchdown pass.
After the teams exchanged punts, Day broke free on fourth down for a 74-yard touchdown. Pisgah stopped the conversion, and Cold Springs led 12-6 with 5:31 remaining in the half.
A 3-yard touchdown pass pulled Pisgah even at 12.
Cold Springs threatened again before halftime as Alexander ran 17 yards to midfield and Chasteen completed passes of 13 yards to Eli Voce and 15 yards to Day.
Cold Springs reached the Pisgah 15, but the half ended with the score tied.
Pisgah took its first lead in the third quarter. After stopping Cold Springs on fourth down, Pisgah drove to the 4 on a 20-yard run and an 18-yard completion. A 1-yard touchdown run two plays later helped put Pisgah ahead 20-12.
Johnson and Jordan Garmon each ran for 12 yards on the ensuing drive. Chasteen scored from 21 yards out, and Johnson ran in the conversion to tie it at 20.
Pisgah answered on the second play of its next possession with a 46-yard touchdown run for a 26-20 lead.
Chasteen’s 29-yard run and Johnson’s 14-yard gain put Cold Springs at the 4. Chasteen scored his third touchdown on the next snap. The conversion came up short, leaving the teams tied at 26 with 10:40 remaining.
Voce intercepted a pass to give Cold Springs the ball at midfield. Alexander ran 43 yards down the right sideline, and Day scored from the 4 two plays later.
Chasteen added the conversion for a 34-26 lead with just over seven minutes left.
Pisgah tied it again with less than five minutes to play. A 31-yard completion set up a 25-yard touchdown run three plays later, and the conversion made it 34-34.
Phillips picked up a first down on the winning drive, and Johnson kept it alive with a fourth-down run.
From the Pisgah 33, Chasteen found Voce for 23 yards. Day scored on the next play and ran in the conversion.
Pisgah completed passes of 11 and 18 yards on its final possession before its last pass fell incomplete.
Day finished with 128 yards on 14 carries, and Chasteen rushed for 81 yards on nine attempts.
Alexander added 80 yards on nine carries, and Johnson had 77 yards on 17 carries.
Voce intercepted two passes, and Elijah Moore added a third interception for Cold Springs.
Cold Springs (10-1) will travel to Lexington on Friday, Nov. 13, for the second round.
The Golden Bears improved to 10-1 with a 28-21 victory over Ohatchee.
