Eagles, Falcons have plenty of Bird Bowl competition

By Peter Brewington, Times Staff Writer

Friday’s traditional Fauquier Times-sponsored Bird Bowl has sneaky relevance.

Yes, county rivals Liberty and Fauquier have combined for a gloomy 4-14 record. And are not playoff bound. But there’s plenty of historical significance.

At 4-5, Liberty is seeking to avoid only its third losing season in 20 years. Only the 1999 and 2016 Eagles teams finished under .500.

For 0-9 Fauquier, the picture is bleaker as the Falcons are trying to avoid matching the worst season in school history. The Falcons went 0-10 in 1980. The Falcons’ next three worst seasons are 0-9-1 in 1967 and 1-9 each in 1979 and 1983.

Given that the Eagles have won 15 straight Bird Bowls dating back to 2002, a loss to Fauquier would be an eye-opener.

The Falcons last beat the Eagles in 2007 in the season opener.

“I told the kids that they still have a lot to play for because it is a big rivalry game,” Liberty coach Sean Finnerty said. “Fauquier always comes and gives us a lot because it is such a big rivalry.”

Fauquier is coming off a 49-6 loss to Sherando, while Liberty is looking to rebound from last week’s crucial 36-12 loss to Millbrook that crippled the Eagles’ playoff chances.

Bird Bowl preview

Friday: Fauquier at Liberty, 7 p.m.

Records: Eagles, 4-5. Falcons, 0-9.

Region 4C rank: Liberty at No. 7 and Fauquier at No. 14, as of Oct. 29.

Week 10 standouts: Darrion Allen had 94 yards and two touchdowns on six carries in his debut as an Eagles running back. Hershel Rinker scored the Falcons’ lone touchdown on a 7-yard run.

Kettle Run

Record: 8-1.

Next game: Friday vs. James Wood (4-5), 7 p.m.

Region 4C rank: No. 4 with the Colonels at No. 11, as of Oct. 29.

Series history: Teams have met only once, with the Cougars winning 47-26 last season.

Last week: James Wood beat Handley 21-14 in overtime with Kettle Run on a bye.

Week 10 standouts: The Colonels’ Jackson Turner had 97 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries while Malachi Imoh had 139 yards on 23 carries.

Notes: A James Wood victory would give the Colonels their most wins since 2010 (matching five wins in 2015 and 2014). A Kettle Run victory would give the Cougars their second consecutive nine-win season.