Arundel quarterback Billy Cosh certainly didn't look like someone making his first varsity start.
Cosh guided the Wildcats' high-powered spread offense like a veteran last night, completing 14 of 25 attempts for 169 yards and three touchdowns to help No. 5 Arundel roll to a 28-13 victory over No. 11 Broadneck in an Anne Arundel County league game.
Several factors could have made the start difficult for the junior, who is the son of Maryland defensive coordinator Chris Cosh. Billy Cosh was taking over for All-Metro quarterback Nick Elko, who last year guided Arundel (1-0, 1-0) to the Class 4A state final; the Wildcats were playing on the road; and rain fell throughout the second half.
But Cosh did not waver. He threw all three touchdown passes in the first half as Arundel jumped to a 21-7 lead at the break. Cosh then guided the Wildcats with poise in the second half when the rains came, and Arundel went to a more ball-control style.
"I had a few butterflies on the first series," Cosh said. "But after that, I was fine. We have some unfinished business from [last year]."
After Arundel went three-and-out on the first series, Cosh got touchdown passes on the next three possessions. He threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Alec Lemon for a 7-0 lead. Cosh followed that with a 22-yard scoring pass to Sean Fitzgerald to put the Wildcats ahead 14-7.
After then came an 8-yard touchdown pass to R.J. Harris, a key score that gave the Wildcats a 21-7 edge with 1:39 left in the half.
"He wasn't scared," Arundel coach Chuck Markiewicz said. "This isn't something that's new to him. He lives for this."
The Wildcats made it 28-7 in the third quarter when Chris Rice recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown. Joe White came in virtually untouched to knock down the punt, and it rolled to Rice.
Broadneck (0-1, 0-1) actually outgained Arundel, 385-297, but most of those yards came between the 20-yard lines. Ron VanMeter gained 143 yards on 23 carries, and quarterback Kyle Colleran threw for 128 yards and ran for 68 more (including two 3-yard touchdowns), but the Bruins couldn't make enough big plays.
Broadneck also turned the ball over twice in Arundel territory.
