ROCKY MOUNT – It was a tale of two halves here Friday night where Hertford County’s woes against non-conference rival Rocky Mount High School continued in a 17-14 loss, marking the Bears first setback of the young season.

Even though HCHS dominated the stats – outgaining their hosts in total yards (323-184) – the Bears suffered through a dismal second half, crossing midfield only once with that effort coming on the game’s final snap. HCHS only mustered 62 yards of total offense in the final two periods of play.

The first half was a different story where the Bears amassed 261 total yards and led 14-10 at the break.

Trailing 3-0 following a 22-yard Micah Barnel field goal inside the final minute of the first quarter, HCHS came right back with a three play, 71-yard scoring drive that ended with a 49-yard TD pass from Ryan Weaver to Kevin Privott on the second play of the second quarter. Ackerman Grace added the PAT and the Bears led, 7-3.

HCHS stretched that lead to 14-3 at the 2:53 mark of the second period, driving 80 yards in 11 plays capped by Weaver’s two-yard TD run and Grace’s PAT.

Rocky Mount answered just 14 seconds later when Mason Hines returned the ensuing kick-off 89 yards to paydirt. Coupled with Barnel’s PAT, HCHS saw its lead trimmed to 14-10 at halftime.

Neither team could muster much offense in the second half. The only score over the final 24 minutes came with 8:14 left in the game where Rocky Mount finally mustered a drive (52 yards in eight plays) capped by Hines’ game-winning two-yard run.

Hertford County’s Kenny Sharpe did enjoy another solid outing, rushing for 124 yards on 19 carries. That effort was his third straight 100-plus yard game of the season.

Hines led Rocky Mount, rushing 16 times for 94 yards.

The Bears, 2-1, face another tough non-conference test next Friday (Sept. 7) when they travel to Nash Central High School for a 7:30 p.m. game.

(Roanoke-Chowan Publications analyst Gattis Hodges contributed to this story.)