Published on: Thursday, September 09, 2010

By Brandy L. Simms

GERMANTOWN – After suffering a heartbreaking road loss to Clarksburg in last year’s season opener, Seneca Valley got a measure of revenge in Friday’s 20-14 overtime victory against the Coyotes.

Seneca Valley senior Eddie Cunningham rushed for a game-high 176 yards on 20 carries and scored two touchdowns, including the game-winner: a two-yard run to propel the Screaming Eagles to a victory at home.

“Coach [Fred] Kim wanted this victory, and we wanted it too,” said Cunningham, who played on last year’s team that fell to Clarksburg, 15-8, on an interception return for a touchdown in the final seconds.

The budding rivalry between the two schools was apparent as an overflow crowd packed the stadium grounds.

“We’ve been waiting one year for this game,” a Seneca Valley assistant said, moments before kickoff.

Clarksburg was led by the dynamic duo of sophomore running backs Naim Reid and Jaylen Little, who combined to rush for nearly 200 yards. Reid finished with a team-high 126 yards on 23 carries before he was sidelined with an injury in the third quarter. Meanwhile, Little rushed for 67 yards on 14 carries.

“They were solid, outstanding,” Kim said afterward. “They’re just chunking. They were very patient. They were squaring up their shoulders running downhill and taking advantage of the size of their offensive line.”

Clarksburg scored on the game’s opening possession when Zach Gallion crossed the goal line from three yards out. The extra point gave the Coyotes a 7-0 lead with 9:06 remaining in the first quarter.

However, Seneca Valley’s offense struggled for much of the first half but managed to get on the scoreboard on Bernard Wolley’s one-yard touchdown run with four minutes left in the second quarter. The extra point failed and the Screaming Eagles trailed at halftime, 7-6.

Late in the second half, Cunningham found an opening and burst through a seam and down the sideline en route to an 85-yard touchdown run to put Seneca Valley ahead for the first time. Max Nicholson’s quarterback sneak on the two-point conversion gave the Screaming Eagles a 14-7 advantage with two minutes left in the third quarter.

The Coyotes knotted the game up at 14-14 on Gallion’s one-yard run with 6:17 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Clarksburg missed a field goal in the overtime period, but Seneca Valley answered with Cunningham’s game-winning touchdown moments later.

Note: Kim said senior running back Cyrus Britt, who transferred to Seneca Valley after spending last season at Sherwood, would likely be sidelined for the entire season due to a knee injury he suffered during the summer.

“He might be back, but I’m not so sure right now,” Kim said.