On a throwback homecoming Friday night at Signal Mountain, the Eagles looked old-school stylish out of the gate.
A near-perfect opening drive of 10 plays - nine of them runs, including Collin Farr's touchdown dash around the left end - covered 76 yards.
Sadly for the hosts, that quick start - and the glorious halftime festivities - served as the apex of the highlights in a 30-14 loss to Giles County.
"I think our kids were really ready to play, and this obviously was a game we wanted to win since it was homecoming," Eagles coach Ty Wise said. "We felt like we were in a very good position going into the half, and we were right where we needed to be."
Giles County handled Signal's best first quarter of the season. In addition to the textbook opening drive, the defense contained the bigger and deeper Bobcats. After the first 12 minutes, Signal led 7-0 and had outgained the visitors 108-18.
For the Eagles (2-7), however, the familiar refrain of limited numbers and strained depth proved painful. Even from the start.
Signal's best lineman - senior TaDarrell Hodge - was forced to watch from the sideline, the latest Eagles player to miss time this year.
Still, the fast start left the visitors reeling. And impressed.
"I think Signal came out and punched us pretty good and took it to us," Giles County coach David O'Connor said. "They are a little undermanned but they came out and took control early, and that's a credit to what they do."
Giles County (6-3) relied on veteran quarterback John Bachus to overcome the early hole. Bachus converted three crucial third-down runs in the opening half, and after a rocky start throwing the ball he eventually found passing success against several of the two-way Eagles manning the secondary.
In fact, after a first-half TD pass gave the Bobcats a 10-7 halftime edge, Bachus grabbed control of Friday's game for good with an 80-yard TD pass to Jamus Neal on the first play of the second half.
"We didn't make the throws in the first half we normally make," O'Connor said. "We didn't really say much to them at halftime, but we just wanted to focus on playing better."
Bacchus finished with 106 yards rushing and a score to go along with 194 passing yards and three scoring throws.
Signal clawed back into the game with another impressive Farr scoring run. Farr, who rushed for more than 100 yards and suffered a painful hit late in the previous week's loss to Notre Dame, again was a focal part of the Signal's three-pronged running attack.
Farr finished with 92 yards and Signal's two scores on 15 carries. Fullback Collin Wiegert added 58 rushing yards, and Travion Williams ran for 68.
It was part of the plan but again proved to be just short for Wise and Co.
"We are trying to keep games close and be in a position to make some plays late," said Wise, whose team had a chance to cut the margin to a one-score game late in the third before failing to convert deep in Bobcats territory.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com and 423-757-6343.