SALEM, Va. (WCYB) — The Rye Cove Eagles entered their first-ever state championship game chasing a storybook ending years in the making. But a pivotal 96-yard touchdown swung momentum to the Rappahannock Raiders, sealing the Eagles’ fate in a 49–14 loss.
For a small school with big dreams, the defeat stung—but it didn’t erase what the team accomplished.
“The community has just been so good. It hurts for everybody,” said Rye Cove Head Coach Gary Collier. “Four years this coaching staff came in here with these seniors, and they’ve done nothing but work, work, work. They believed in everything we were doing, and I can’t be more proud of them.”…