Eagles start out fast but lose momentum falling to Handley

Peyton Rutherford scores 4 touchdowns  Photo by Doug Aylestock / CCS

BERRYVILLE, Va.- After a disappointing opening loss to Dominion, the Clarke County Eagles hoped to rebound on Friday as the opened their 2018 home season against local rival Handley. The Eagles fell late and the Judges came away with a 41-35 win.

Clarke County (0-2) started out strong scoring on their opening drive behind the power running of Peyton Rutherford. Rutherford scored the first of his four touchdowns going in from three yards out at 7:56 and with Nick Bahamonde's PAT led 7-0.

"We had the game and we let them back in," Eagles coach Chris Parker said. "It was a tough agonizing loss."

Handley (3-0) did not take long to strike back scoring just two plays and 40 seconds later when Malachi Imoh rambled 77 yards breaking several tackles along the way. The PAT failed and Clarke held a slim 7-6 lead.

Imoh went in for his second score and ran in the two point conversion to give Handley their first lead with 2:37 to go in the quarter.

The Eagles defense controlled the second quarter   Photo by Doug Aylestock

Clarke then played their best ball of the game, starting a drive a the end of the quarter that culminated with a 1 yard Rutherford plunge. The Eagles scored three times in the second period holding Handley scoreless to take the momentum and a 28-14 lead into the locker room.

"We started off strong in the game in the first two quarters," Rutherford said. "We were killing them, and they just came out in the second half and beat us.

The Eagles defense was able to stuff the middle of the line forcing a couple turnovers, enabling Kyle Baylor to score from 12 yards and Rutherford added his third score a 5 yard run with 30 seconds to go in the half. For the second time in two games this season the Eagles scored just prior to the half ending and went in with the game momentum.

Colby Childs breaks to the outside      Photo by Doug Aylestock / CCS

After coming out of the gates strong in the early third quarter, the Eagles went up 35-14 after Rutherford bulled in from one yard out. Rutherford ended up with 130 yards rushing. Baylor added 92.

It was all Handley after that. The Judges scored four unanswered touchdowns with quarterback Jacob Parker throwing 4 touchdowns in the second half, 3 in the fourth quarter.

D1 prospect Kevin Curry had three of those touchdown receptions and D'Andre James had one.

"I talked to the team, I didn't sugar coat it," Parker said. "It was tough, gut wrenching loss. We did some good things, and we need to correct some things."

Parker also went on to tell his team after the game that with an 0-2 start, the team's true character would be tested and they can start on making things right as they travel to Waynesboro next Friday.

Quarterback Colby Childs was 4 for 7 passing for 27 yards and added 23 yards rushing, summed things up for the team this way.

"We've just got to forgot about this game and keep practicing like we have been," Childs said. "We've just got to have each other's backs. If we do that the whole game, we'll win."

Kick off at Waynesboro is set for 7:00 PM

Kyle Baylor looks to daylight                      Photo by Doug Aylestock / CCS

Danny Lyman played a solid game                                                  Photo by Doug Aylestock  /  CCS

More of Doug Aylestock's game photo's can be viewed at his Photography Concepts page below:

Clarke vs Handley Photo's by Doug Aylestock

Game Highlights and Post Game interviews can be viewed below: