Rutherford starts on good note

NAVARRE - After back-to-back one-win seasons, the Rutherford Rams have done it again: They've won one game this season.

There is a little difference this year: They've played only one game.

Junior quarterback Cordarryl Rogers ran and passed over Navarre in a season-opening 29-6 win on Friday night. Rogers threw for 115 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for 85 yards and two more scores.

"He really controlled the game well," Rutherford coach Greg Rivers said.

Rogers scampered 55 yard for a touchdown in the second quarter for the first score. The Rams pushed the lead to 9-0 at halftime with a safety, one of many big plays by the team's defense. After allowing nearly 38 points per game last season, the Rams didn't give up a point Friday until the entire first team was off the field in the fourth quarter.

Dieton West and Tony Brown had interceptions for Rutherford, and the defense had six sacks, including three by Sean Watson, two by Fabrice Bowdrey and one by Jarred Daniels.

"They really played well, really forced turnovers," Rivers said.

In the second half, Rutherford broke open the game: Rogers had a 13-yard touchdown run and Nick Smith hauled in a 30-yard scoring pass from Rogers in the third quarter, and West caught a 35-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter.

"We worked hard in practice; they should be feeling good. This is the first time in a long time we've started 1-0," Rivers said.

Rutherford (1-0) hosts Eagle Nest Christian Academy at Tommy Oliver Stadium on Thursday.