The Pleasant Home Eagles kicked off the 2012 football season last night hosting the Cottonwood Bears.

Cottonwood got the scoring going on the opening possession as Octavius Hardrick caught a 19-yard touchdown to give the Bears an early lead.

Jon Cole Chesser gave the Eagles great field position as he took the ensuing kickoff 65 yards down to the Eagles 30 yard line; they were unable to take advantage of the field position.

After taking over on downs, Cottonwood drove down the field and looked to be heading for the end zone before a Cottonwood running back was hit hard by a host of Eagles at the 7 yard line and coughed up the ball and Pleasant Home’s Austin Herrington was able to fall on the loose ball.

The first half came to a close with the Eagles knocking at the door of the endzone but not able to get any points in the first half.

After forcing a three and out to start the second half, Cottonwood took over at mid-field before Octavius Hardrick hauled in a catch for his second touchdown of the game to give CHS a 13-0 after the extra point failed.

A few possessions later, Cottonwood’s Octavius Hardrick found the endzone for the third time, darting a 31-yarder for a touchdown. Following a successful 2-point conversion, the lead was 21-0.

The Eagles finally got on the scoreboard on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Chesser found space again on a kick off taking, it 70 yards to the CHS 25-yard line. The Eagles took advantage this time of Chesser’s return as Hunter Greathouse muscled his way into the endzone from 5 yards out; and Greathouse also converted the 2-point conversion to cut the lead to 21-8.

The Eagle defense stepped up in big way when Troy Greathouse put a hit on Hardrick that jarred the ball loose and Hunter Greathouse recovered the ball just before it rolled out of bounds.

The Eagle offense needed only four plays to reach the endzone capped off by a 6-yard touchdown run from Cameron Hill the 2-point conversion was successful.

“We fought to the end, we just weren’t in good enough shape and it showed early on,” PHS head football coach Cody McCain said. “But I liked how we fought to the end.”

Chesser finished with 148 return yards. Hunter Odom had 127 passing yards and one interception. Austin Herrington finished with 58 yards receiving. Leading rusher was Cameron Hill with 40 yards and one touchdown.