CLOVERDALE — Kelseyville High School's varsity football team won't soon forget its first game on Cloverdale High School's new artificial turf field. Neither will the host Eagles, who clobbered the Knights 72-0 on Friday night.

The first play of the game signaled what type of night it would be for Kelseyville as a Knights player received the opening kickoff deep in Kelseyville territory, retreated a few yards into the end zone, and took a knee for what he might have thought was a touchback, only to find out it was a safety. After the ensuing free kick went out of bounds, the Eagles (2-2 league, 4-2 overall) scored the first of their 10 touchdowns.

Aided by a Kelseyville lost fumble and two pick-six interceptions thrown by two different Knights quarterback, the Eagles found themselves up 30-0 after one quarter and 51-0 by halftime.

More injuries didn't help, according to Kelseyville head coach Erick Larsen, who said he had only 14 players left by game's end. Starting quarterback Zayne Barker eventually moved back to his regular starting spot at tight end when the Knights' only other tight end had to leave the game with an injury. Nursing an injury of his own, quarterback Luke Watkins replaced Barker.

The lopsided nature of the final score had more to do with Kelseyville's inability to stop Cloverdale's running game.

"We could not defend the edge," Larsen said. "They kept running around the end and our corners weren't coming up and making plays."

The Eagles also changed direction on the Knights, effectively using reverses to cross up the flow of the defense.

Injuries on the offensive line forced the Knights to use two new linemen, according to Larsen, and the Eagles took advantage.

"Cloverdale has some big guys up there," he said.

The Eagles also loaded up on defense to stop Kelseyville's running game, which finished with only 63 yards. Barker and Watkins had a tough night as well, going a combined 1-for-11 for 11 yards and two interceptions that Cloverdale returned for touchdowns.

Through it all, Larsen said the Knights never quit.

"I thought they showed good character," Larsen said. "The kids stuck together and held their heads up."

A couple of brights spots were Lander Hockett with eight solo tackles and four assists, Jake Keithly with six solo stops, and Steve Frace with five tackles and one assist, including one sack.

"That was one heck of an effort by Hockett," Larsen said.

Cloverdale won the junior varsity game 27-20.