Rams shut down Braves to get 1st win

SAND HILLS — Two weeks into the season, the Rutherford offense still isn't executing at the level that coach Loren Tillman would like them to. 

Thanks to a dominant effort from the Rams' defense, on Friday night against Walton, they didn't have to be. 

Rutherford bounced back from a season-opening loss to Port St. Joe last week to shut out Walton 13-0 to notch its first victory of 2020. It's also the first shutout for the Rams in ... well, a long time. 

"Honestly, me and the coaches were talking, it has to be a long time since Rutherford had a shutout because we can't remember one," Tillman said. "It feels like it's been a pretty long time since the Rutherford varsity football team has thrown a shutout, so it does feel pretty good. 

"We were fortunate to get coach Pat Miller to come in over the summer to be our defensive coordinator. The kids buy in to what he's selling them and it feels like we're going to be pretty good on that side of the ball. We just have to keep getting better every week." 

The offense did just enough, providing a touchdown in each half. It was Brian Edwards reaching the end zone first on an end-around from the 1-yard line, with Casey Boyd scoring from 8 yards out in the fourth quarter to essentially put the game away. 

"The offense moved the ball, but we just weren't as consistent as we want to get," Tillman said. "But they did convert a couple of first downs to keep some key drives going, and the defense did a good job of keeping them off the scoreboard."

Walton's best drive came on its first, as the Braves marched into the Rutherford red zone before the Rams' defense stiffened and stopped them on downs. The Braves didn't get as close to the end zone for the remainder of the game.

Rutherford (1-1) will next play Oct. 9 at Arnold (1-1), while Walton (1-3) is home next week for Northview.