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The Rockbridge County High School football team fell 47-35 to East Rockingham Friday night on the road, dropping the Wildcats’ record to 0-6.
The ’Cats took the lead early in the game, but the Eagles (4-2) capitalized on RC turnovers to grab the win in Elkton.
It was a thrilling start for RC. Senior Simon Emore returned the opening kickoff 82 yards into the end zone for the first touchdown of the night. The two-point attempt was good, and the scoreboard lit up 8-0 for the ’Cats.
East Rock answered later in the first quarter. Senior quarterback Jakari Eaves was struggling to execute his passes, but he eventually got a big one down the left to his receiver, Trestan Jones, to put his team at the 19-yard line. After being met by the ’Cats’ defense at the line of scrimmage on the next down, Eaves flicked an easy bullet to a wide-open Xavia Brown in the end zone. The PAT was good, and the score was 8-7.
To end the first quarter, RC made its way down the field deep into Eagle territory. Running back Elijah Fox had a big gain where he nearly broke away but was tackled at the 30yard line. The Wildcats were set up at the 19-yard line to end the quarter.
Fox, doing the work on the ground, got the handoff and leapt his way into the end zone. The PAT was good, and with 11:40 left in the half, RC led 15-7.
The Wildcats continued to work the ball down the field well when it was in their possession, but their mistakes led to big gains for East Rock.
The ’Cats fumbled the ball on a third-and-long play midway through the second quarter, and the Eagles recovered it for a touchdown.
Later in the quarter, RC nearly forced a safety, but it instead turned into points for the Eagles. Damien Durrette fumbled the ball in his own end zone, but he managed to pick it back up and find a lane down the left sideline. He ran it all the way for the touchdown. The score was 27-15 with 4:40 left in the half.
RC head coach Martin Cox said he wants his players to realize they need to keep improving, as they’ve done, and stop letting costly mistakes decide their games.
“We do so many good things and can’t allow them to be overshadowed,” he said.
The final touchdown of the half was thanks to a co-effort swiftly getting the ball down the field by RC running backs Gabriel Wade and Fox. Wade forced his way through the defensive pack for a big gain to the 10-yard line. Wade took the handoff again and was tackled near the goal line.
Fox got the final carry and swept right to stride past the pylon for the TD, and he also received the ball for the twopoint conversion. To end the half, the score was 27-23.
The Eagles kept their momentum going into the second half, while the Wildcats were unable to reclaim the lead.
Senior Caden Culp nearly had an interception in the third quarter, but just couldn’t bring the ball in. Eaves kept the ball for himself on the following play and advanced down near the 1-yard line. Durrette then dashed for another Eagles touchdown. The PAT was good, and the third quarter ended with East Rock ahead 34-23.
As the margin widened, the ’Cats desperately tried to move the ball through the air in the final quarter, even though the run game had been working in their favor. Quarterback Jayden Layman sent a deep pass into the end zone early in the quarter, but Eagles defenders were all around, and the ball was intercepted.
East Rock took care of the ball again on the ensuing drive. Durrette received the handoff and took off down the left for a touchdown. RC appeared to be tricked by the play, focused on blockers in the backfield.
The Eagles’ Ryan Dean stayed down on the field after the touchdown, and both teams took a knee before he jogged off the field. The PAT attempt to follow was no good, and the score was 40-23 with 8:05 left.
RC was able to answer on the next drive. Layman passed the ball to a wide-open Emore down the middle of the field. Emore was able to stride away from the Eagles on his back and into the end zone as the Wildcats narrowed the deficit to 4029.
Both teams scored once more to end the game. It was Emore again on a big catch for the ’Cats that he took for a TD. The final score was 47-35, the smallest margin RC has lost by this season.
“I thought we did a lot of good things, made some improvements,” Cox said. “We just made some mistakes at the wrong points, and it cost us.”
RC will face Harrisonburg at home on Friday, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
