By KEVIN TAYLOR/Special to the Reporter

ELMORE — Coosa Valley coach Arlton Hudson made no bones about what his Rebel team would have in store for top-ranked Edgewood Academy Friday night at Storrs Field.

The Rebels (3-4) used its offensive line to push around the Wildcats much of the night, but a late fumble cost Coosa Valley a chance at upsetting Edgewood.

Wildcat quarterback Josh Crawford, who accounted for all five of his team’s touchdowns, scored the eventual game-winner with 5:38 left to play in the 38-35 decision.

Coosa Valley made one last push using its bruising rushing attack, but was stalled at the Edgewood 41 with a minute left to play.

“Take a couple of mishaps on our end away and we come out of here with a win tonight,” Hudson said. “This game is going to be hard to swallow. Our guys played their heart out and left everything on the field.

“I certainly don’t think the best team won tonight.”

Coosa Valley stood toe to toe with the defending Alabama Independent School Association Class AA champs for much of the night.

After a quick touchdown by Crawford with 10:28 left in the opening quarter, Rebel quarterback Zack Spratlin found Colton Pate on a 33-yard strike to knot the game.

Coosa Valley was faced with a key fourth-and-one play and converted it to keep the six-play scoring drive alive.

Following an Edgewood field goal, the Rebels jumped ahead of the unbeaten Wildcats on a Pate reverse.

Pate found open field around the right side to sprint 37 yards for the score to give his team a 14-10 lead.

Edgewood answered two possessions later, but the lead was short-lived.

Spratlin found the end zone from a yard out on the quarterback sneak to put the Rebels back up, 21-17.

Edgewood returned the favor on the ensuing drive to retake the lead, but Coosa Valley would not break.

Spratlin found Pate again from 27 yards out to give the Rebels a 28-24 lead at the half.

It marked the first time in more than two years Edgewood, which has won 38 straight games, had trailed at intermission.

Two possessions after the homestanding Wildcats retook the lead, Coosa Valley jumped back ahead on the first play of the final quarter.

Nico Teofilo broke free for an 83-yard sprint to the end zone to give his team a 35-31 its final lead before the decisive turnover.

“We beat a really good football team tonight,” Edgewood coach Bobby Carr said. “They hit us right in the mouth, like we expected, and we managed to get out of here with a win.”