Fallston Football Drops Opening Game Against Rival Bel Air

Cougar football traveled to Bel Air on Friday to open their season. Despite 3 touchdowns and 2 forced turnovers, miscues on both sides of the ball led to the Cougars slim defeat, 27-20 against the cross-county rival Bobcats.

“Bel Air is one of the toughest opponents we face all season and I’m proud of our guys and how we fought to the end. It’s only up from here,” captain Oliver Rueckert (Class of 2026 DE) said following the game Friday night.

Coming off a season that saw the Cougars marching all the way to third round of the playoffs, Fallston is hopeful to outplay their successful 2023 season but got off to a shaky start in week 1. “I think we let a win go with the many mistakes we made on the offensive side of the ball,” Senior quarterback Dominic Foster said about the Cougs’ multiple turnovers. “I’m very excited for what’s to come with this team and how we’ll grow and get better these coming weeks.”

The first half saw great defensive play, especially by junior defensive back Daniel Montoya who came out of the half with an interception off Bel Air sophomore quarterback Michael Moore and a touchdown-saving pass breakup. Despite this, Fallston still trailed 7-0 prior to a Dom Foster deep ball that was caught by an airborne Zach Loewe (Class of 2026 WR/DB) over 2 Bel Air defenders to put the game at 7-6 as the Cougars failed to convert the extra-point kick following the touchdown grab.

Though a fumble, defensive mistakes, and poor offense led to the Cougars continuing to trail into the second half, some creative play design kept Fallston in the fight. After finishing a defensive drive, Fallston’s Travis Hunter-esque player, Zach Loewe, stayed on the field and was tossed the ball, leaving Oliver Rueckert open down field for a pass from the two-way player, earning the Cougars a cinematic diving touchdown. Loewe was also involved on the next touchdown as a Dom Foster lateral to sophomore Mikey Griffin left him wide open for an 80-yard touchdown pass, reviving Fallston’s strong crowd who showed up to the rival school in great number. Despite the amazing play, Fallston trailed by 9, leading to a decision to go for 2 to hopefully bring it within a score – a call that the Cougs’ coaching staff aced as Dom Foster found Hunter Solwold, a Washington commit, on a crossing route to convert the 2-pointer and give the fans in orange hope, trailing only one touchdown with time left in the 4th quarter.

Unfortunately, the 2-point conversion would mark Fallston’s last score. Although the Cougars got the ball back on a kickoff recovery, the offensive could not click in the final minutes of the game. With time ticking down, a Bel Air defensive stand forced a decision to go for it all on 4th and long, leading to the game-sealing interception, which was returned into Fallston territory, allowing the Bobcats to settle into victory formation and bleed out the last seconds on the clock, ending it 27-20.

The Cougars have a lot to build on at practice in the coming days before they travel on the road once again for their week two game this Friday. Fallston’s game came with many highlights, but they couldn’t put all the pieces together to pull off a win.

It will surely be another exciting season and hopefully the Cougars can keep their heads up and take inspiration from the Baltimore Ravens parallel season-opening loss. “This is probably the worst game we’re going to play all year. So, if this is the best they got, good luck in the postseason,” Ravens tight-end Isaiah Likely said following Thursday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Fallston looks to bounce as they take on Aberdeen – who dropped their opening game against Harford Tech – this Friday, September 16, at 7 p.m.