Two passes, two catches, two touchdowns. For two quarters Friday night, Atholton was doing the unthinkable, beating River Hill. The Raiders went into halftime with a 14-7 lead after Kalvin Seamonson threw touchdown passes of 90 and 80 yards to Maryland-bound Matt Robinson.

However, the third and fourth quarters were a different story. The Hawks shored up their pass defense, rode their running game and outscored the Raiders 28-0 in the last 24 minutes to win, 35-14 -- their 37th consecutive victory and ninth this season. Atholton (8-1) lost for the first time in an anticipated matchup of unbeaten teams vying for the county title.

“We just had to keep our game plan," said River Hill offensive lineman Nick Bonhag. "The offense was driving the ball, we just couldn't give up the big play on defense again.”

Atholton was counting on that big play. Robinson said the Raiders were determined not to "come out here with that deer-in-the-headlights look ... just play your hearts out, don't be scared of these guys, don't be down 21-0 before the game even starts. We surprised them, we knew we had them shook, we just weren't able to hold it.”

The game started off typically for home-standing River Hill. The Raiders took the opening kickoff and drove 16 yards before punting. River Hill then drove deep into Atholton territory, and had first-and-goal at the Raiders' 4-yard line. That's when things became atypical for River Hill. The Raiders kept the Hawks out of the end zone on four straight runs, and got the ball on their 1-yard line.

“That was great. Our nose tackle, Jordan Marshall, played a hell of a game, and that was big stopping them on a quarterback sneak as good as they are up front,” Atholton coach Kyle Schmitt said.

Things got even better for Atholton moments later. Seamonson threw a 10-yard pass to Curtis Pumphrey to get some elbow room. Then, on third-and-11 from their 10, Seamonson hit Robinson for a 90-yard sprint up the sideline on the last play of the first quarter.

“We were getting down, everybody was getting frustrated and flustered,"said Robinson, who also plays linebacker for Atholton, "but we just came back. We had a great stand, and I was able to have that long touchdown.”

The Hawks tied it on their first drive of the second quarter, and then recovered an Atholton fumble on the Raiders' 25-yard line on a strip by Thomas Erdman collected by Jordan Griffin.

But River Hill gave the ball back on a fumble recovered by sophomore Steve Whiting on the Hawks' first play after the turnover.

On the very next play, Seamonson hit Robinson for an 80-yard touchdown and a 14-7 lead.

It added up to two turnovers and an 80-yard touchdown in the span of three plays.

“We were stopping them on the ground," River Hill's Erdman said. "On our side of the ball we were running all over them, (but) we had one fumble and there were just two big plays. That was it.”

In the second half, River Hill's secondary tightened the screws and it was business as usual as four different River Hill players scored.

“It showed us what our team can do when we have to come together as one,” said Nick Bonhag, who had River Hill's only first-half touchdown. “And no one is going to get in our way.”

Atholton lost its starting running back, Andrew King, and starting defensive end, Brian Anthony, to first-half injuries.

Atholton 7 7 0 0 - 14
River Hill 0 7 21 7 - 35

First quarter
A: Robinson 90 pass from Seamonson (Haas kick), :00.

Second quarter
RH: Bonhag 2 run (Shahegh kick), 5:00.
A: Robinson 80 pass from Seamonson (Haas kick), 3:55.

Third quarter
RH: McMichael 13 pass from McLaughlin (Shahegh kick), 7:17.
RH: McLaughlin 2 run (Shahegh kick), 3:20.
RH: Johnson 5 run (Shahegh kick), :18.

Fourth quarter
RH: Kluge 5 run (Shahegh kick), 3:40.







For even more video from this game, check youtube.com/user/ExploreHoward.

Around the league

Wilde Lake 16, Long Reach 7

Wilde Lake (6-3) scored on a 10-yard run by Christian Hough in the fourth quarter to pull away from Long Reach (5-4), which has lost three straight.

Wilde Lake's Khalil Viera rushed for over 100 yards and a two-point conversion. Scott Korzienowski scored the Lightning touchdown to give his team a 7-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Mike Smith made three sacks for the Wildecats, and Christian Hough, Nick Pellitier and Joe Kelly each intercepted Long Reach passes. Wilde Lake's Devon McCoy recovered a fumble.

Wilde Lake  0  8  0  8 - 16
Long Reach  7  0  0  0 - 7

First quarter
LR: Korzienowski 5 run (Sloan kick)

Second quarter
WL: Gilman 3 run (Meighen pass from Kelly)

Fourth quarter
WL: Hough 10 run (Viera run)

Oakland Mills 16, Marriotts Ridge 13

Chris Childers' interception set up a 30-yard touchdown pass from Jarod Montoya to Troy Schofield just before halftime to give the Scorpions a 16-13 lead that held up. Neither team had won this season coming into the game.

“Both teams played great,” said Oakland Mills coach Jimmy DiPietro, who enjoyed his first win as head coach.

Glenelg 37, Mt. Hebron 20

The Gladiators (8-1) made it three in a row with a high-scoring win over Mt. Hebron (4-5).

Centennial 28, Howard 22

The Eagles (4-5), who were 1-4 after the first half of the season, are now 4-5 after winning three of their last four.

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