(Please see video below)

Atholton coach Kyle Schmitt has watched his team excel at one aspect of the game each week. In Week 1, the Raiders' offense put up 43 points on a normally solid Reservoir defense. In Week 2, the defense held Howard — the league's second-highest scoring team in 2008 — to 14 points.

On Friday afternoon, in Week 3, it was the special teams' turn to shine, as Ryan Raines returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and Andrew King returned a punt 60 yards for a score with less than three minutes left in the first half en route to a 35-14 victory over visiting Centennial (1-2).

King caught the ball near the sideline and eluded the first would-be tackler. He then darted toward the middle of the field and left a wave of Centennial defenders behind him.

"That was a huge play, and Andrew's been a playmaker for us since we started this year," said Schmitt, whose Raiders are 3-0. "We've worked hard on special teams the last couple weeks and that paid off today."

On the ensuing kickoff, Eddie Robinson hit a low line-drive that hit the legs of a Centennial player. It caromed back toward Atholton's side of the field, and Robinson pounced on it at about the 50-yard line.

Eight plays and two minutes later, quarterback Kalvin Seamonson scrambled into the end zone and Robinson kicked the extra point to give Atholton a 28-14 halftime lead.

Centennial had answered Atholton's score on the opening kickoff with a Kyle Young touchdown to tie the score, 7-7. Then, after Seamonson threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Maryland-bound Matt Robinson in the second quarter, Centennial answered again with a 22-yard Boris Gamazaychikov touchdown run to tie the game, 14-14, with six minutes left in the half. After the Centennial defense forced Atholton into a fourth-and-15 on the Raiders' next drive, it looked as if the game would be tied at halftime.

But Atholton's defense forced a quick three-and-out, and King's punt return changed the momentum for good.

"They executed. They're a good team. I think we can play with them," Centennial coach Ken Senisi said. "We just can't give them the special team points."

Centennial also was hurt by the loss of Young — the Eagles' top tackler and running back — with a knee injury halfway through the second quarter.

Gamazaychikov led the Eagles with 61 rushing yards. King led the Raiders with 50. Sophomore Kendall Newsome played on the Raiders' last drive with four minutes left and gained 36 yards on six carries.

Seamonson had nine completions for 130 yards, with Matt Robinson accounting for 59 yards on four receptions. Four other Raiders also caught passes.

"I've been going to Matt a lot so I knew they'd be keying on him. When I came to the line for a lot of the plays they had the safety over the top, so I knew it would leave other receivers open, and I was able to work the ball to other people," Seamonson said.

Eagles defensive back Brandon Anderson intercepted a pass in the first quarter to halt the Raiders' first drive. Atholton's Ryan Raines and Brian Anthony teamed up on an 11-yard sack at the end of the second quarter. Anthony also had a solo sack for a loss of four yards to snuff Centennial's first drive of the second half.

Centennial's Eme Ekhkbat recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter, but the Eagles were unable to capitalize on the turnover.

Atholton will take its 3-0 record into a homecoming game at Wilde Lake next Saturday at 2 p.m.

"Hopefully, we can put it all together going into Wilde Lake," Schmitt said. "I told the kids, 'If you want to be in the next level, you've got to beat teams like (Wilde Lake).' It'll be a big challenge for us."

Atholton already has come a long way from last season when it  started 0-3 and finished with only three wins.

"We want to win and do big things this year and be the top team in Howard County," Seamonson said. "Watch out for Atholton. We're ready to play."

Centennial   7  7   0  0 - 14
Atholton      7  21  0  7 - 35

First quarter
A: Raines kickoff return (E. Robinson kick), 11:50.
C: Young 1 run (Hugel kick), 6:30.

Second quarter
A: M. Robinson 28 pass from Seamonson (E. Robinson kick), 11:04.
C: Gamazaychikov 22 run (Hugel kick), 6:10.
A: King 60 punt return (E. Robinson kick), 2:43.
A: Seamonson 5 run (E. Robinson kick), :44.

Fourth quarter
A: Raines 4 pass from Seamonson (E. Robinson kick), 6:53.



Around the league

River Hill 37, Long Reach 0

In a matchup of unbeaten teams, the Hawks (3-0) scored all of their points in the first half against the Lightning (2-1).

Kevin Johnson scored three times, on runs of 11 and 13 yards, and a 21-yard touchdown pass from Harry McLaughlin as time expired in the second quarter. The River Hill defense scored twice -- on a 10-yard interception return by Nick Bonhag, and on a safety.

The Lightning special teams struck twice for big plays — a 77-yard kickoff return by Travis Preston and a 65-yard punt return by Adam Reed — but the Hawks' defense held both times.

River Hill       14  23  0  0 - 37
Long Reach   0    0   0  0 -  0

First quarter
RH: Johnson 11 run (kick failed), 8:19.
RH: Bonhag 11 interception return (McLaughlin run), 1:26.

Second quarter
RH: Safety, 11:54.
RH: Neuberth 13 run (Gluck kick), 9:44.
RH: Johnson 13 run (Gluck kick), 4:59.
RH: Johnson 21 pass from McLaughlin (Gluck kick), :00.

Wilde Lake 18, Hammond 12

The Wildecats (2-1) had a scare but pulled out the victory. The Bears (0-3) got on the board first with a four-yard Dionte Jones touchdown run in the first quarter, but Wilde Lake went into halftime with the lead after two Joe Kelly touchdowns -- a 12-yard pass to Greg Meighen and a three-yard quarterback keeper.

After a scoreless third quarter, Hammond tied the game on another Jones touchdown. But Joe Kelly put the Wildecats ahead for good with a 24-yard scoring pass to Khalil Vierra.The two teams combined to go 0-for-5 on extra-point attempts.

Vierra was the Wildecats leading rusher, with 70 yards on 12 carries.

Wilde Lake  0  12  0  6 - 18
Hammond   6   0   0  6 - 12

First quarter
Ha: Jones 4 run (kick failed)

Second quarter
WL: Meighen 12 pass from Kelly (kick failed)
WL: Kelly 3 run (run failed)

Fourth quarter
Ha: Jones 6 run (kick failed)
WL: Vierra 24 pass from Kelly (kick failed)

Glenelg 28, Howard 12

The Gladiators (3-0) joined River Hill and Atholton at the top of the county standings with their victory over the Lions (1-2). Glenelg's Colin Osborne rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns on only seven carries, caught two passes for 54 yards and made seven tackles.

Mt. Hebron 33, Oakland Mill 10

The Vikings (2-1), who have scored at least four touchdowns in all three of their games, won easily against the Scorpions (0-3).

Reservoir 33, Marriotts Ridge 13

The Gators (1-2) won their first game of the season against winless Marriotts Ridge (0-3).

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user comments (1)

user bradleycarpenter says...

Glenelg brings home Elgard, two times in a row!!

Posted 7:43 PM, 09.19.09

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