The Prince Edward County High School varsity football team had its opportunities on Friday night against host Nottoway High School, but the Eagles, ultimately, could not execute well enough on offense to get the win.

The Cougars won 40-29, achieving their first victory of the season.

“We got outplayed up front,” PE Head Coach James Ford said. “We just didn’t get it done up front, offensively, defensively, and we’re capable.”

The contest was significantly more competitive than last year’s meeting between the two teams, when Nottoway emerged with a 58-26 victory.

This time, the Eagles were a threat to win until the Cougars scored on a 31-yard touchdown run up the middle with 4.5 seconds left in the game.

Both teams weathered a penalty-filled game that lasted a little over three hours.

Prince Edward took an early 7-0 lead after junior Aneal Walker ran for a 19-yard touchdown. The Eagles kept the momentum when senior Rajai Walton, who led his team with 13 total tackles, grabbed an interception near the end of the first quarter. But PE was not able to capitalize on it. Instead, Nottoway got the ball back and tied the game following a 1-yard touchdown run.

The teams traded possessions via fumbles, but the Cougars turned Prince Edward’s turnover into points when their 30-yard field goal attempt bounced off the left upright and went in, giving them a 10-7 lead.

To open the second half, the Cougars were limited by strong defense from senior Markeem Trent, a holding penalty and a bad punt.

During the ensuing Prince Edward drive, a 29-yard pass from senior Joel Thomas to senior Bryan Moses helped set up a 4-yard touchdown run by Walker, leading to a 14-10 Eagles lead — their last of the game.

Thomas went 12-for-31 passing for 182 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Walker led the Eagles with 20 carries for 64 yards, two scores and a 2-point conversion, and Moses led the team with four catches for 98 yards.

Nottoway retook the lead, 16-14, midway through the third quarter. During the Cougars’ next drive, the Eagles lost Trent for the game after a helmet collided with his knee.

“Our leader went out on defense, and no one really stepped up for us, and that hurt us a little bit,” Ford said.

When play resumed, Nottoway went on to score on a 3-yard pass, giving it a 22-14 lead.

But Prince Edward senior Brandon Scott took the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, helping make it 22-21.

The Cougars were able to extend their lead to 33-21 by the midpoint of the fourth quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Prince Edward responded when Thomas hit Scott in stride for a 60-yard touchdown pass. Walker ran in the 2-point conversion, and suddenly the score was 33-29 with 6:13 remaining.

The Eagles forced Nottoway to punt and began a drive with 3:51 to go, but it ended in an interception.

Prince Edward held out hope for a chance to get the ball back with some time left on the clock and an opportunity for a big pass play. However, the Cougars were able to drain the clock and score on fourth down.

Ford was unsure of Trent’s status Monday, but was anticipating not having him on the field this week.

On Friday, Trent recorded 11 total tackles, three for a loss, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

“We’ve got enough leaders on this team that I’m sure that somebody’s going to come in and get the job done,” Ford said.

Also on Friday, senior D’Andre Bowler registered 10 total tackles, two for a loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery, senior Michael Dupuy had seven total tackles and a fumble recovery and junior Khalil Smith had four total tackles, one for a loss, and a forced fumble.

The Eagles (1-2) host Central Lunenburg High School (2-1) this Friday at 7 p.m.

“Lunenburg’s going to run the ball,” Ford said. “Man, they’re going to pound it. So, we’ve got to be ready.”