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Not a win, but Cougars show offensive gusto
Fall is an ideal time to visit Berkeley Springs, W.Va.
Families come up to rent cabins and soak in the red, yellow and orange mountain backdrop. Weddings are staged in the rustic town with its Roman bath and warm mineral waters, which locals still use to fill their jugs at the open downtown tap.
For the Kettle Run High football team, Friday's visit to the historic region was a business trip. The Cougars' business: beat a beatable foe and win the first football game in school history.
While it never came close to happening in a 33-12 loss to Berkeley Springs High, there was reason to proclaim this the most successful result in Kettle Run's inaugural campaign.
Kettle Run (0-8) reeled off eight gains of 20 or more yards, with quarterback Justin Duvall throwing for a school-record 274 yards. All-purpose back Michael Mayhugh racked up a combined 149 rushing and receiving yards, and Ryan Wicka caught four passes for 136 yards.
After the game, as the rain fell, coach Jeff Lloyd told his team in a midfield moment, “Guys, you took a big step tonight.”
Despite all the hard knocks and bruised egos absorbed in their eight setbacks, Lloyd has adopted a Always-Be-Positive manta, and he saw more pluses Friday.
Yet he was also frustrated.
Lloyd knew Berkeley Springs was his school's most realistic shot at a win. The host Indians were 1-6 and fairly small in stature — as evidenced by 140-pound quarterback Matt Colwell and the school's population of around 650 students.
“I really thought we could get that first win tonight, but we left a lot of points on the field,” said Lloyd, lamenting his team's bad luck and other circumstances .
In the first half, Kettle Run had a 49-yard touchdown run by Chance Fitzwater called back after a holding penalty. The Cougars later surged to the 1-yard line on Mayhugh's 35-yard run, but could not convert...
See the Wednesday print edition of the Fauquier Times-Democrat for the complete story.
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