It has been a long time since the Atlee football team scored in their opening game of the season and even longer since they actually won. However, the Raiders accomplished both this year to kick off the season in grand style with a 14-12 hard fought victory over Benedictine.

  In a game where the Atlee offense played big, it was the Raiders’ defense that made the difference. “I’ve said all season, our game is predicated on our defense,” said Atlee head coach Roscoe Johnson. “I told our defense, ‘Please. You’ve got to stop them tonight.’”

  And stop them they did, when it counted most.

  With less than a minute to play Atlee led 14-12 but Benedictine was charging down the field threatening to pull out the win. However, with no timeouts left the clock continued to roll and Benedictine stood on fourth and one within striking distance of the goal line. But the Atlee D stood tall and shut down the Cadet’s last struggle to score before time ran out. 

  “I’m proud of these guys,” said a beaming Johnson.  “They’re really working hard; and we haven’t had any behavioral problems.  And that’s because we’ve got a great bunch of kids.  The first day of practice, they came out wanting to hit.  We’ve been preaching to them for the last three weeks that they have to be prepared.  They showed us a little bit of what they are made of.” 

  With Atlee putting a halt to the Cadets’ ground game, Benedictine capitalized from deadly pass receptions between the tall Petrohovich twins, quarterback Greg (12 of 22, 170 yards) and wideout Drew (6 receptions, 170 yards), both of whom stand 6-5. Throughout most of the game, the pass combo was effective because Drew held nearly a foot height advantage over the Atlee secondary.

  But Johnson decided to put a stop to it in the fourth quarter by having his own 6-2 quarterback, Garthright, play defensive back.

  “Dylan started out the season quarterbacking and starting as safety,” Johnson said.  “He bruised his shoulder and I felt like it was the end of the game.  We need seniors to step up.  I know he’s one senior that can step up; and he did that.  It was him being out there; he was able to help us shut him down.”

  With 12 seconds on the clock and Atlee fans booming encouragement, Garthright broke up a fourth-and-one pass play to Drew Petrohovich to seal the Atlee win.

  “He put me out there to shut down #81,” Garthright said. “Eighty-one had a pretty darn good game and I just knew that if I went out there and gave it my all, I could shut him down, and I did.  I was looking for the curl or the fade and made sure I wasn’t going to get beat deep.”
  And when it came to offense, Johnson was not hesitant to mix things up as well. Though a three-year starter at quarterback, Johnson rotated both Garthright and Drew Ferguson at the helm throughout the game. “I’ve got two good quarterbacks, and I’m going to ride both those quarterbacks,” Johnson said.  “Drew does things that Dylan can’t do; and Dylan does a lot of things Drew can’t do.  In all, I’ve got two good quarterbacks, and I want to give them both reps.  I’m not afraid, and I’m showing teams I can put any one of those guys in and my offense stays the same.  So, I’m going to continue to do that until someone figures out how to stop us.”

  If there was one determent to Atlee’s game it was the number of failed scoring opportunities in the second half. Several times the Raiders were at first and goal then ending back up in the midfield either due to sacks, tackles behind the line of scrimmage or penalties.  Johnson attributed the lapses to first game jitters, “We’ve got to do a better job with that,” he said. “We’re still young, but we’re going to be fine.  We just have to work together.” 

  Garthright agreed. “It was a little like last year,” he said. “We were a little happy-go-lucky in the beginning. We’ve just got to settle down.”

  However, Johnson pointed out it was a different story on the other side of the ball. “I can’t say that about our defense.  They came up big at the end and got some big hits.  (Josh) Doggett is unbelievable.  I’m so glad I have him with us.”

  Doggett appeared to be in on every defensive play throughout the game.

  The Raiders D announced their presence at the outset when Benedictine in their first possession quickly had to punt after two short runs and a pass reversal that kept them shy of moving the chains.  The Raiders fared no better responding with a midfield fumble and leaving their opponent with good field position on the Atlee 41. 

  The emboldened Cadets began a steady drive, whittling the distance down to the goal line.  R.J. Price ran a keeper for six then Greg Petrohovich connected with brother Drew for 16.  Clayton Navarre brought it to first and goal with two more runs through the middle; and Isaiah Alston, after a gain of six, took it in for the last yard.  But the PAT went wide right leaving Benedictine with a 6-0 lead.

  In their third possession on offense, Raiders looked as if they would have to give the ball back on fourth and one, when David Ratchford ran a fake punt to gain a first down and keep the Atlee offense alive. 

  Ferguson completed a pass to Jordan Underwood for another first down on the Cadets’ 35.  On fourth and four it appeared the Raiders would turn the ball over; but Trevor Elie on a ground gain followed by a heart-stopping fumble, clawed in the pile-up to recover the ball and managed to keep the drive alive.
  An Underwood catch brought Atlee to first and goal and Elie (103 yards) punched it in with a run up the middle for the Raiders first score of the season.  Devon Green managed the extra point to put Atlee ahead of the Cadets, 7-6.

  With 3:23 left until the half, Benedictine started from their 22 running Shaki Sanders up the middle for back-to-back ground gains of 12 and 16 yards.  Three plays later a 19-yard pass reception by Drew Petrohovich had the Cadets on Atlee’s 25.  Rashad Stallings closed the distance by another 22 yards on a run due to a missed tackle; and Alston brought the Cadets back up another six points with a three-yard run.  But once again, the PAT failed when the Raiders’ Matt Crotts got a hand up to block the kick, keeping it at 6-12, Cadets.

  It appeared Atlee would regain the lead heading into the locker room when Elie returned the ball to Atlee’s 35. Then on the first play Garthright launched a rocket to Shaquille Williams who took it into the zone. However the play was called back for a holding penalty. Though they managed a first down, the Raiders were unable to score again before the half ended.

  Though the Atlee offense could not score on their initial possession of the second half, the Raider D stepped up and took control. Atlee’s defense quickly shut down the Cadets and put them in a third and 14 deep in their own territory. On a Petrohovich pass up the middle, Doggett intercepted the ball and returned it to the five.

  The on the very next play when Elie ran it up the middle for the score and Jordan Boothe’s extra point ended the night’s scoring with Atlee up 14-12.

Benedictine …..……. 6 6 0 0 – 12
Atlee ……..…………  0   7   7   0 – 14
B – Alston 2 run (kick failed)
A – Elie 6 run (Boothe kick)
B – Alston 4 run (kick blocked by Crotts)
A – Elie 5 run (Boothe kick)