Photo by Sam Yu Catoctin's Eric Barbour (9) carries the ball in the first quarter at Walkersville High School on Friday night. Also shown are Catoctin's Alan McMahon-Rowe (63) J.C. Burrier (71) and Walkersville's Ben Creasey (52).

The Cougars knew it was going to take their grittiest, grimiest effort to stay undefeated and that's exactly what they delivered in a 20-14 rain-soaked victory over Walkersville that raised their record to 8-0 overall.

Junior running Eric Barbour scored the game-winning touchdown on a 1-yard plunge midway through the third quarter and the stingy Catoctin defense didn't allow a point in the second half.

"That's what won us the game," Reaver, a 6-4, 220-pound junior, said of the defense. "It's the stronghold of our team."

The Cougars came into the game with the top scoring defense in Frederick County, allowing only five points per game. They had shut out their last three opponents.

But Walkersville 's Quentin Ezelle quickly ended that streak, as the junior power back rumbled for a 68-yard touchdown on the Lions' first offensive play of the game.

"We're not used to giving up the home runs," Reaver said.

Ezelle ran for 208 yards and both of Walkersville 's touchdowns on 25 carries. He also scored on a 34-yard run in the opening minutes of the second quarter.

But Catoctin tightened its grip on Ezelle and the Lions' offense in the second half.

Ezelle had 83 yards on 17 carries in the second half and the Lions came away with no points on a drive that began on the Catoctin 32 in the final minute of the third because they lost a fumble on a bad exchange at the snap.

It was the second Walkersville drive of the game that began in Cougars territory and ended in a turnover. Earlier in the game, quarterback Jeremy Musselman was intercepted by Catoctin's Austin Carter, ending a drive that began on the Cougars' 44.

"Got to be able to take advantage and punch those in," Walkersville coach Ryan Hines said.

In addition to the lost fumble, the Lions (5-3) were also stopped three times on fourth downs in the second half.

"We felt we slowed (Ezelle) down before he got to level one. In the first half, he was getting to levels two and three and was just running us over," Cougars coach Doug Williams said.

"We slowed him down in the second half and were hitting him before he got to the line of scrimmage."

Catoctin scored touchdowns on its opening drives in each half.

Eric Barbour's touchdown occurred at the 5-minute, 39-second mark of the third. It capped a nine-play, 74-yard drive. The big plays on the drive were a 23-yard run by Austin Carter and a 19-yard burst up the middle by senior Braden Myers.

Carter finished with 107 yards on 14 carries. And, despite the sloppy conditions, senior quarterback Dylan May completed 7 of 16 passes for 74 yards.

Walkersville , on the other hand, only attempted seven passes in the game.

The Cougars also took care of the wet ball, losing only one fumble and tossing only one interception.

May capped Catoctin's opening possession with a 13-yard touchdown run virtually untouched right up the middle of the Walkersville defense.

Then, after falling behind in the second quarter, Eric Barbour's older brother, Paul, pulled Catoctin even with a 1-yard touchdown run of his own with 2:56 left in the first half.

That capped a 17-play, 86-yard drive on which they converted two fourth downs.

But the Cougars didn't win it until Eric Barbour delivered "a punch in the mouth" with his touchdown run.

"I got the ball and all I could think was keep my feet under me and keep my legs moving at all times," he said. "I held onto the ball as tight as I could and didn't let anyone get it as I crossed the goal-line."

And the Catoctin defense refused to cede any ground to the Walkersville offense. Any yards the Lions earned in the second half were hard-earned.

"Walkersville is a great team," Williams said. "I would have loved to have been up in the stands watching this game."

Even at 8-0, Williams is trying not to look too far down the road. Next week's home game with Middletown presents another formidable challenge. But even he would admit it's getting harder not to take even a tiny peek.

"I am not going to brag," he said. "But I am going to enjoy this one tonight."