BEVERLY — Things couldn’t have started better for Caldwell.

On the first play from scrimmage during Friday night’s game at Fort Frye, Caldwell forced a fumble which Gavin Leake picked up and ran 38 yards back for a touchdown, putting the Redskins up 7-0 just 17 seconds into the contest.

However, Fort Frye shook off the early mistake and dominated the game from there, claiming a 31-7 win to improve to 4-1 on the year.

Coming off a bye week, the Cadets took their second possession right down the field to Caldwell’s 11. The drive stalled in the red zone, and the Cadets settled for a 35-yard field goal by Tytan Waller at the 5:41 mark.

After the FFHS defense forced a punt, the offense took over at its own 13. A 46-yard run by Tyce Beardsley put the Cadets in Caldwell territory. Kainan Bradford followed with a 29-yard run, which paired with a facemask put Fort Frye at the 15. From there, Sam Bricker took a handoff 15 yards for a touchdown to put the Cadets up 10-7 with 1:51 to go in the first.

Fort Frye took that three-point lead into halftime.

Caldwell’s first drive of the second half resulted in an interception by Beardsley, giving Fort Frye the ball at midfield and setting up a 22-yard touchdown run by Beardsley to make it 17-7.

On Fort Frye’s next possession, Gavin Rauch’s 33-yard run set up his 4-yard touchdown run one play later, extending the advantage to 24-7 with 7:04 left in the third.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Fort Frye scored again when quarterback Grady Hesson plunged forward for a 1-yard touchdown to make it 31-7.

Beardsley’s second interception of the game

The Redskins, who were missing starting quarterback Izic Cool due to injury, dropped to 3-3 on the year. They’ll travel to Rosecrans next week.

The Cadets are home again next week when they play Greenbrier West at 6:30 p.m. Friday for homecoming.

Waterford 28, Eastern 13

REEDSVILLE, Ohio — Waterford scored 14 unanswered points in the third quarter to pull away for a 28-13 win over Eastern Friday night.

The Wildcats (4-2) led 14-0 in the second after a pick-six by Weston Fairchild and a 4-yard touchdown pass from Hayden Jones to Trevin Zimmer.

The Eagles (3-2) battled back, but a missed extra point had them down 14-13 at halftime.

In the third, Zimmer had a 3-yard touchdown run and Jones, who led all rushers with 173 yards on 24 attempts, scored from 4 yards out to build a cushion.

Jones was also 6 for 13 passing for 75 yards and a TD. He was intercepted once by Ethan Edwards. On defense, Avery Pottmeyer had an interception and a fumble recovery. Dylan McCutcheon had a pair of sacks.

Waterford is back on the road next week when it visits Southern while Eastern will play host to Wahama.

Circleville 42, Marietta 21

CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — Marietta made some major improvements offensively this week, but couldn’t find an answer for Circleville’s offensive attack as the visiting Tigers dropped a 42-21 decision Friday night.

The Tigers, who pay a visit to Williamstown next week, dropped to 0-6. Circleville is now 5-1.

Down 14-0, the Tigers got an 11-yard touchdown run from Kobe Alexander to get within seven in the second quarter.

After Circleville answered to go back up 14, Marietta found a quick response when Owen Riley scrambled in the pocket to avoid a sack and finally spotted Braiden Plaugher wide open in the end zone from 31 yards out. That made it 21-14, which was the score at halftime.

After CHS went ahead 28-14 in the third, the Tigers went back to work and cut the deficit to seven on Alexander’s second TD of the night, a 3-yard run.

The host Tigers closed the game with 14 unanswered points to put it out of reach.

Morgan 42, West Muskingum 28

McCONNELSVILLE, Ohio — McGwire Winner and Tanner Bankes ran for two touchdowns apiece and Jude Garber kicked a pair of field goals, including a school record 42-yarder, to give Morgan a 42-28 win over West Muskingum Friday.

The Raiders (4-2) took a 7-0 lead on Bankes’ 2-yard TD run with 18 seconds left in the first. In the second, Garber kicked a pair of field goals, the first one breaking Curt Bellville’s previous school record set in 2002, to put Morgan up 20-7.

A little trickeration put the Raiders up three scores at halftime as receiver Casen Foley threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Arlis Ponchak. Foley then caught Haiden Pauley’s two-point pass to make it 28-7 at the break.

Winner ran a touchdown from 4 yards out in the third Bankes added one late in the fourth as the Tornadoes (2-4) could never get within striking distance from there.

West M saw Noah Morrison throw three touchdown passes — two to Tavin Bennett (15 yards and 13 yards) and a 10-yarder to Braxton Brownrigg.

The Muskingum Valley League gauntlet continues next week when Morgan plays host to John Glenn.