varsity.roanoke.com

BUCHANAN -- Who said good fences make good neighbors?

In the first football game between Botetourt County's two high schools in seven years Friday night, Lord Botetourt used a good offense and a good defense to score a 36-7 nondistrict victory over host James River.

The bigger and stronger Cavaliers outgained the Knights 391-113 and forced three third-quarter turnovers as they broke open a tight game at halftime in the 2007 season opener for both teams.

Botetourt senior Casey Weddle was a huge factor. The 5-foot-8, 158-pounder intercepted two passes at defensive back and recovered a fumble on offense for the game's first score in the opening quarter.

It was nothing new for Weddle, who set Botetourt's single-season record for pass interceptions last year with seven.

"He is just a great kid," second-year Botetourt coach Tater Benson said. "He's a great all-around player on our baseball team. He's a 3.8 student. He gets it done everywhere. He's the quietest kid I've ever coached, but his play speaks for itself."

Weddle put Botetourt on top near the end of a hard-hitting first quarter when backup tailback Darryl Stone fumbled while straining at the goal line. The ball came free, but Weddle emerged from the pile for a 6-0 Cavaliers lead.

"I was standing there hoping he got in," Weddle said. "I saw the ball pop out and was able to get it."

Weddle got a good view of James River's only touchdown late in the first half. A breakdown in Botetourt's secondary allowed Davon Ross to get free behind the coverage and quarterback Oliver Surprenant lofted a perfect 30-yard TD pass to the 6-foot-2 junior as the Knights cut the lead to 13-7.

The Cavaliers went into halftime up 16-7 after a 30-yard field goal by Troy McNeil. The nine-point margin hardly put Benson in a comfort zone.

"We had people saying this week that we needed not to run the score up on them, but I knew that wasn't going to be the way it was," Benson said. "I know what kind of kids they have out here at James River. They're tough kids, gritty, and they've got a coaching staff that hates to lose."

James River coach Philip King hopes he didn't lose more than the game.

For most the second half, three of the Knights' best players -- receiver Cory Ware, starting halfback Phillip Stewart and backup tailback Eric Theimer -- were seated on the bench with various injuries. Ware, who sported an ice bag on his neck for much of the game, was taken from the field by ambulance after complaining of numbness in his arm.

"I think it was more of a precaution than anything else," King said.

Seeing his 25-man roster depleted before his eyes was a big concern for King when plans were made to pair the Group AA Cavaliers against his Group A team in a much-anticipated season opener.

"That absolutely was the No. 1 worry," King said.

Stopping Botetourt's power running game proved tough as the Cavaliers rotated fresh backs.

Starter Marquece Perdue had 88 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, while Josh Colombini gained 71 yards on 16 carries. Colombini scored on a 12-yard run in the first half and added a 2-yard TD run in the third quarter.

James River, which had very little time of possession in the first three quarters, gave Botetourt some help to start the second half.

Weddle picked off a pass from Surprenant on the second play, setting up Perdue's 8-yard run for a 22-7 lead. Ware then fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Brett Hall recovered at the Knights' 15. Three plays later, Colombini's second TD made it 29-7.

Fullback Zach Santolla got the last TD on a 3-yard burst with 2:47 left in the quarter.

Botetourt reserves spent most of the remaining time on the field, but the game was not totally lopsided.

"We were playing physical in the first half," King said. "It's hard to recover when you turn the ball over. The score doesn't tell the tale."

Lord Botetourt 6 10 20 0 -- 36

James River 0 7 0 0 -- 7

LB -- Weddle fumble recovery in end zone (run failed)

LB -- Colombini 12 run (McNeil Kick)

JR -- Ross 30 pass from Surprenant (Kelly kick)

LB -- FG McNeil 30

LB -- Perdue 8 run (Kick blocked)

LB -- Colobini 2 run (McNeil kick)

LB -- Santolla 3 run (McNeil kick)

LB JR

First downs 6 21

Yards rushing 52 269

Passes C-A-I 2-12-2 8-14-1

Yards passing 61 122

Penalties-yards 6-30 11-118

Fumbles-lost 3-1 3-0

Punts-average 5-28 3-36

Individual statistics

RUSHING -- Lord Botetourt, Perdue 15-88, Colombini, 16-71, Stone 9-61, Arritt 6-22, Santolla 2-10, Willis 3-10, Quinn 2-5, McKenna 1-2; James River, Theimer 4-17, Stewart 7-13, Pentecost 6-13, Allen 2-6, Surprenant 4-3.

PASSING -- Lord Botetourt, Straub 8-14-1, 122; James River, Surprenant 2-12-2, 61

RECEIVING -- Lord Botetourt, Cooper 4-34, Weddle 2-58, Williamson 2-30; James River, Ware 1-31, Ross 1-30.