BEALLSVILLE – Heading into Friday night Conotton Valley was riding a seven-game season-opening losing streak, so not even a lightning delay and tornado warning was going to spoil the moment for Ohio Hall-of-Fame Coach Don Hertler and his fired-up Rockets.

Conotton Valley rolled up 179 total yards, all on the ground, with sophomore Evan Rice finding the endzone three times and junior tailback Maddox Walter adding two scores and 116 rushing yards in just two quarters as the Rockets blasted Beallsville by a 41-0 count at drenched Dave Caldwell Field.

While Hertler’s offense took advantage of short fields most of the night the defense came up big in a major way, holding the Blue Devils to negative-53 yards of total offense and just a limited number of positive yardage plays.

“We knew coming in we needed to hang out hats on our defense and Coach (Ty) Carrothers’ unit more than did their job,” Hertler said. “Those kids really feed off of his energy. We do still have a long way to go on offense, but we took care of the football on a bad night, played the entire game and won the physical battle, so I am happy about that.”

The Rockets wasted no time getting their power rushing attack going, moving 58 yards on six plays with sophomore quarterback Evan Rice faking a handoff to the inside before keeping to the outside for a 15-yard touchdown dash at 8:50 of the first. Rice’s pass for two was short and it was a quick 6-0 lead.

Conotton Valley wasted a great opportunity following a two-yard Blue Devils’ punt after a three-and-out, fumbling twice but recovering each, but stalling in four plays. However, Beallsville fumbled on the very next play with the visitors taking over 15-yards away from another score.

That score came in three plays with Walter bursting straight up-the-middle from nine yards out at 2:10. The pass for two again failed and it was 12-0 heading into a lightning and tornado warning delay.

Following a lengthy stopage the Rockets picked up where they left off, scoring three second quarter touchdowns, two of which were set-up by long punt returns by sophomore Ben Mauge. Rice’s second score of the half, a six-yard burst came three plays after a 47-yard punt return and with Ben Mauge’s conversion run made it 20-0 early in the second.

Walter capped a quick three-play, 56-yard scoring drive at 4:14 of the first with a 39-yard blast straight up-the-middle with a pass to Rocko Romeo providing the extra two points and a 28-0 score. Ben Mauge’s 41-yard punt return set up a 12-yard Ethan Mauge touchdown run with a under a minute to go in the half with Ben Mauge’s PAT making it 35-0.

Rice’s third score of the night, this time from three yards out, came with just over a minute to play in the third with the PAT sailing wide for a 41-0 count. The contest was eventually halted due to lightning with five minutes to play in the contest.

“Honestly, I think we are about 60 percent as good as we can be right now,” Hertler added. “And our schedule coming up is pretty good. I am very proud of these kids and their effort (Friday). But make no double about it this is 100 percent about these kids, it’s not about me.

“These kids made the plays and really went out and got after it in a new system.”

For Beallsville Head Coach Rusty Lucas and his thin and youthful team it was a game to put behind them and time to look ahead.

“No excuses, they have a new head coach and came out and played a very physical game,” Lucas commented. “We have five players that have never played before and we have to learn to execute. They kids are going to have to believe in what we are trying to do and buy into everything for us to be able to turn the corner.

“We will get back to practice on Monday, make the necessary changes and get ready to play Frontier next week.”

While the Rockets picked up their first season-opening victory since a 32-14 victory over Beallsville in 2012, the Blue Devils have now dropped nine straight season-openers. Ironically, Beallsville last victory in its first game of the year was a 49-13 win over Conotton Valley in 2011.