After its third hiatus, a series that was once played annually will resume on Friday.
For the first time since 2008, James Wood and Clarke County will meet in a regular-season football game when the Colonels travel to Wilbur M. Feltner Stadium for a 7 p.m game in the season opener for both teams.
“Hopefully, the community is excited about it,” James Wood coach Todd Wilson said. “Not having to drive very far to a neighboring county is good. I’m sure there’s some overlap of families around the communities of Clarke County and Frederick County.
“And it’s exciting to play a program who does very well. They do a really good job, year in, year out, and we know their coaches will have their kids ready to play.”
James Wood opened its doors in 1950, and for each of its first 20 years, Clarke County was on its football schedule. The Eagles won 12 of those 20 matchups — including 12 of the first 17 before 1955 Clarke County graduate Walter Barr took over as James Wood’s head coach in 1967 and guided the Colonels to three straight wins from 1967-69.
Since then, James Wood and Clarke County have only met from 1996-98 and 2005-2008, with the Colonels taking six of those games for an all-time edge of 14-13.
James Wood owns the last three wins in the series, including two led by Barr during the last two years of his return to the Colonels from 2005-2007. The last matchup between Clarke County and James Wood was a 24-23 overtime thriller in Berryville, with the Colonels giving Mike Bolin a win in his debut as head coach. Devin Stonier knocked away Zach Shiley’s two-point conversion pass near the front corner of the end zone to preserve the win.
In 2008-2009, Clarke County sixth-year head coach Casey Childs was in his second year as defensive coordinator and first year as the school’s director of athletics. Since then, he’s been able to schedule some games against schools from Winchester/Frederick County — the Eagles played Handley from 2015-18 (winning three times) and Millbrook in 2015-16 (losing both games).
But with Clarke County in Class 2 and Winchester/Frederick County schools in Class 4, the Eagles don’t help them much with playoff power points. And there’s also the fact that with 18-straight winning seasons, the Eagles are hard to beat.
Childs is just glad he was able to make it happen for the 2025-26 scheduling cycle.
“In a lot of sports, we play James Wood, so it was good to add football in there,” Childs said. “We’re excited about keeping it local. It’s good for the communities at both James Wood and Clarke County. Both places have got a rich history in athletics. A lot of the older community people who used to play in these games are looking forward to it. Hopefully we can keep going from just a two-year cycle and continue to build it.”
James Wood comes into Friday’s contest with the more experienced group. The Colonels return seven players with starting experience on offense and five on defense from last year’s 7-4 team, while senior lineman Joseph Stem (58 tackles, 18 solo) the only returning starter on offense or defense for the Eagles.
Clarke County had its one scrimmage on Aug. 21 against Loudoun Valley. Childs said he saw good things, and things that need improvememt.
“We were able to move the football when we got the correct hat on a hat,” Childs said. “Defensively, we did not play well in space. But I thought we played extremely hard. There were things that were there to build off of.
“Our kids just need some experience, and to keep battling. I know they’re going to do that, for sure. Being as young as we are, there’s no question in my mind we’re going to get better each week. We’re going to keep having the same expectations that we always do and coach these kids up on a constant basis.”
James Wood’s offense is led by quarterback Owen Neal, a junior who threw for 1,568 yards, seven TDs and nine interceptions and ran for 724 yards and nine TDs last year. Receivers Xavier Price (25 catches, 471 yards, two TDs) and Xander Manzo (20 catches, 414 yards, three TDs) also return.
“[Clarke County] likes to control the clock and the game with running the ball, so we’ve got to capitalize when we’re on offense,” Wilson said. “Score when we have the opportunities.”
The Eagles were stout defensively last year, when they gave up 15 points per game.
“James Wood has a good quarterback, good receivers, they can run and catch,” Childs said. “They’re going to spread us out and use a lot of motion, and their line has good size.
“I think they do a good job of playing in space, and we’ve got to able to tackle in space. We’ve got to make sure receivers are not left uncovered.”
Clarke County’s offense will be led by quarterback Aidan Genda and running backs Grady Ferrell and Mason Jarvis.
The Eagles’ offense can be difficult to prepare for. Clarke County’s single wing has differences from the single wing Millbrook used to run, but James Wood said the Colonels’ experiences with the Pioneers can help.
“The biggest thing is lining up and executing,” Wilson said. “We need to establish the line of scrimmage and do a good job up front. Get them behind the chains a little bit on those early downs and try to force them into situations they don’t really like to be in.”
James Wood’s defense includes lineman Dominik Ramirez (54 tackles, five sacks) andl linebacker/safety Kaden McCullough (64 tackles, two interceptions).
“[James Wood] has some big kids up front,” Childs said. “Their linebackers have good size as well. If we do the things we’re supposed to do offensively, I’m confident we’ll move the football, but we just have to limit our mistakes on both sides of the ball.”