A mudder is a race horse that performs well on muddy track.  The rainy conditions turned Friday’s game between the No. 10 ranked Varina Blue Devils (1-1,3-3) and the No. 6 Atlee Raiders into a real mudder bowl.  The Blue Devils used their running game early and often to defeat the previously unbeaten Raiders 19-9. 

  The key play came when the Raiders’ vaunted defense gave up a 94-yard touchdown early in the game on a busted play.  In his first start of the season, Varina junior quarterback Maurice Canady (22 carries, 194 yards) picked up a fumble on a high snap and raced up the middle for the game’s first touchdown. 

  De-Shavon Hayes also contributed to their running efficiency, finishing with 97 yards and a touchdown.  Canady scored again in the second quarter.  At halftime, the Raiders were down 13-0 and forced into an uphill battle.

  Atlee was able to move the ball at times in the first half.  However, they were unable to punch it in.  Poor execution, according to Johnson thwarted their efforts.  On the other hand, Varina was unable to extend their lead against the Atlee defense. 

  “At halftime I told them to stay focused and keep going,” said Atlee Raider head coach Roscoe Johnson. “I tried to tell these guys it’s like a boxing match.  We go a couple of rounds with people and eventually we should get them.  Varina’s a good ball club.  They were prepared for us.  They were able to run the ball and we couldn’t stop them.”

  The second half efforts of Raider senior linebacker Josh Doggett personified Atlee’s effort whenever the opposing team’s offense ventured into scoring position.

  “We thought we had two formations that they struggled with in the first half,” said Varina head football coach Stu Brown. “We thought we had the advantage.  The second half they came back and took those formations from us.  Luckily we got those two scores.  You get it in their territory and they buckle down.  Josh Doggett to me might be the best football player in this region.  He single-handley can stop your running game.  When we got down there old number 42 was in on every play.”

  Offensively, Atlee seemed to make minor adjustments also.  Quarterback Drew Ferguson (20-for-41, 148 yards, TD) got into a rhythm to move the ball. 

  The Raiders got on the board with a 30-yard field goal from Joseph Pulisic.
  In the fourth quarter, Ferguson ran two straight quarterback keepers up the middle for large gains.  The change in strategy seemed to confuse Varina’s interior defense. 

  A few plays later, Ferguson found junior wide receiver Will McCombs(7 catches, 85 yards, TD) for a 25-yard touchdown.  Atlee missed the extra point.

  The Raiders still had plenty of time left in the game trailing 13-9 with 9:45 left in the fourth quarter.  Atlee got the ball back but were unable to get it into the endzone.  The Raiders tried a fake punt late in the game but Varinia was ready for them. 

  “We practice all the time on different fakes,” Johnson said of the fake punt. “I knew we had to try something.  Either taking a chance on a fake punt or going for it.  I just think we didn’t block up front.  They were prepared.”

  Varina got the ball back and was able to run down the clock before scoring on a Hayes 4-yard run in the final minute.

  “I am proud that we finished the ball game,” Brown said. “The bottom line is we played a very experienced team.  We beat an undefeated team.  We had been struggling.  We needed it.”

  This week Atlee hosts an Armstrong (3-3) team that was shutout by Midlothian 35-0 last week after getting off to one of its best starts in recent history.  Even though it is homecoming for the Raiders, Johnson says the Varina game is over and the Armstrong game is no cake walk. 

  “Mistakes happen,” Johnson said. “These guys are young.  They’re in high school not college or the NFL.  They gave it everything they got.  Armstrong is a good team.  It is our homecoming but it is going to be a dogfight.  We just got to work hard this week and get prepared.  Coach Robinson has done a great job of turning that program around.  It is a good Armstrong team coming. 

  “We have to stay focused on what we need to do.”

Atlee ............................0 0 3 6   — 9
Varina ..........................7 6 0 6 — 19
V —Canady 94 run (McDaniel kick)
V —Canady 4 run (kick failed)
A — FG Pulisic 30
A — McCombs 25 pass from Ferguson (kick failed)
V —Hayes 4 run