Campbell's Nathan Perry runs ahead vs. ConVal's Cody Siegel (34) during Saturday's game in Litchfield. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

LITCHFIELD – So far, so good for the Campbell High School football team.

The Cougars are now 2-0 after Saturday’s grind-it-out 16-0 win in their home opener vs. ConVal, and they’re hoping this good start sets the tone for the season.

“I give all the credit to the kids this year,” Campbell coach Glenn Costello said. “They are playing four quarters of football in both of our games so far.

“We’re killing ourselves with mistakes, but if we can clear that up, we’ll be OK. Both sides of the ball we’re executing pretty well.”

Defensively they basically smothered a ConVal squad that is basically almost starting from scratch after not playing at all last year due to the pandemic, holding the visitors to just 75 total yards.

The visiting Cougars didn’t cross midfield in the first half, and failed with two third quarter opportunities. The best one was ruined by Nick Carignan’s recovery of a Jaxon Salamy fumble at the Campbell 14, one play after the home Cougars had coughed it up themselves deep in their own territory to start the second half.

Leading the way defensively were tackles Evan St. Pierre and George Ivas, getting the push necessary to stymie the ConVal attack.

“Our front four did a good job up front, and our athleticism helps us out,” Costello said.

Offensively, the hosts used two ways to score, the speedy big-play and then the clock-killing drive.

Campbell’s first touchdown came on a 40-yard run by senior Garrett Arnold to snap a scoreless tie with 5:26 left in the half. Arnold had 101 yards rushing on just seven carries.

“He’s a pretty explosive kid if we can get the ball in his hands,” Costello said.

Scott Hershberger added the 2-point conversion run for the 8-0 halftime lead.

While Campbell’s defense held the fort the winners didn’t get the clincher until putting together a nine-play, 88-yard drive that chewed up nearly four minutes on the clock. Arnold had a 19-yard run during the march, but senior back Nathan Perry set up his own 1-yard TD plunge with a 23-yard run the previous play.

Jackson Kanaley’s two-point run accounted for the final.

The drive was impressive.

“That’s what we want to identify ourselves as when we get going,” Costello said. “We have athletes where we can spread them out but at the end of the day we want to be able to run off-tackle.”

“We got some nicks, and as you can see we’re not deep,” ConVal coach Mike Jillson said. “Once we get nicked up, attrition takes it’s toll on us.

“It’s interesting to coach this group because they didn’t play football last year. … Guys I have now who are seniors and playing a lot, the last time they played football they were sophomores.”

But Campbell has more experience, and with a tougher part of its schedule coming up, Costello will reserve judgement on how far his team has come.

“I’ll let you know in a couple of weeks,” he said.