On a night in which Buckingham County High School honored the memory of Craig Gill, its beloved former football coach who died this past summer from cancer, the accompanying football game showed his legacy is alive and well, even though the contest did not end in a Knights victory.

The undermanned Knights showed heart in their home opener and had a chance to win with a minute left in the game, but the visiting Chatham High School Cavaliers withstood a rally and left with a 28-24 win.

Despite practicing all week with only 13 players healthy enough to be in pads, the Knights took some steps in the right direction Friday.

“We gave up some big plays, but we didn’t quit, so that was a good thing, and no one was pointing fingers at anybody,” Buckingham Head Coach Joshua Wallace said. “I definitely feel the energy coming on and off the field was a whole lot better. Our tempo was a lot better from the first game, so those are all positives right there for us.”

The Knights passing game created some highlights, with sophomore Tyrese Ayers throwing 47- and 24-yard touchdown passes to junior Daniel Brickhill  and senior Juwan Dibble, respectively.

Ayers also ran for a six-yard score, but Buckingham’s blocking on the offensive line was, at times, poor, leaving runners with with nowhere to go.

Chatham was led by 25-year-old Matt Allen, a first-time head coach, who played for Gill at Buckingham and coached under him for the past six years.

“I’m just blessed,” Allen said after Friday’s season-opening win for the Cavaliers. “God gave me this great opportunity to come out here and glorify Him and pour into these boys and try and lead them. I had a great mentor over here — Craig Gill.”

The Knights (0-2) visit William Campbell High School this Friday at 7 p.m.