The long walk from the parking lots to Raider Stadium through Friday night’s crisp fall air was worth the effort for of the host fans. Not so much for the fans of Patrick Henry who saw their Patriots fall to the #8 Raiders 44-6. It was a record third consecutive year that Atlee has downed their rivals to the north and the win marked a remarkable turnaround for a Raiders squad that ended a 16-year losing streak to PH in 2009. Their one and only victory against PH before then was in 1993. 

  Despite the fact that they managed to bookend the game with a couple of long drives, for the most part the Patriots (0-2) offense proved fruitless against the Raiders’ (2-0) defense. 

  Patrick Henry, got in the red zone on their opening drive and closed their last with the longest TD pass of the evening, when sophomore quarterback Tyler Phelps monstered a pass to Bryson Wong for a 51-yard score.  The Patriots managed to avoid being blanked, but not demoralized, when Atlee’s special teams frustrated PH kicker, Felipe Benitez, blocking the extra point attempt. 

  The block was further evidence to the fact that Atlee’s defense has been the game changer so far this year. Leading the way against the Patriots were senior namesakes, Cole Woody and Cole Stout with 10 and 8 tackles respectively.

  “Defensively, we’re lights out,” said Raiders’ coach Roscoe Johnson.  “Coach (Richard) McFee has done a wonderful job with our defense which is totally different than last year; they are as one unit.”

  Johnson believes that in the past the Atlee defense came to rely too much on talented linebacker Josh Doggett. “Josh was good and he was
The Man,” the coach said. “But [this year], our defense is not just Josh Doggett.  It’s a defense.  It’s our defense with no name behind or in front of it.”

  With the bulk of their starters returning this year (eight on offense and seven on defense), Atlee had plenty of strength coming into the season.  “I don’t think people understand; when you have those kind of numbers back, you’re still going to be doing well,” Johnson said. “We’ve just got a good group of seniors.  They worked hard last season, and they’re working hard now.” 

  Atlee senior quarterback Ruben Rucker put on an offensive show, going 13-of-20 for 232 yards and four TDs, averaging over 30 yards on each score. Yet by game’s end he credited the defense for the team’s success.  “Our defense is very good – point blank!” he said. “They fuel our offense.  In my opinion, they are the best defense in the region.  We play them every single day in practice, which makes us that much better.  So to play the best defense every single day, you’re going to get some type of benefit out of that.”

  Big plays for the Raiders’ offense came from two senior wide receivers.  Will McCombs pulled down three TD passes from Rucker, and chalked up 118 yards on five catches. 

  McCombs put the first 14 points on the board with a 32-yard TD reception in the first quarter followed by a 34-yard scoring catch in the second. He then capped off his night in the endzone with a 29-yarder to start the second half.

  Teammate Shaquille Williams snared two TD passes for the evening, a third quarter 30-yard catch from Rucker followed by a fourth quarter 34-yard TD from backup QB Kenner Berry. Williams also came up with the pigskin on a perfectly executed onside kick by senior Joseph Pulisic.  Williams credited those who helped him score. “Great job by the O-line, and the quarterback throwing the ball,” he said. 

  Also contributing to the romp were senior running back Jared Hall with 58 yards rushing and a 16-yard TD run. Sophomore linebacker Tye Burris added to the score by tackling Patriots’ QB Kahlil Mock in the endzone for a safety. 

  Patrick Henry head coach Sammy Hart conceded that offensively the Raiders brought their game, but begrudged the fact that the Raiders continued their rout after the game got out of reach. “Good offensive show power,” Hart said.  “Those guys threw the ball well.  We knew they were going to throw it.  I really didn’t think they’d throw it so much with 30 something points on the board and we had nil late in the game.”

  Johnson, however, was happy with his team coming off a bad week of practice with things starting out slow. “I’m proud of them,” Johnson said. “Every week we’re getting better and better out here on game nights.  We just need to continue improving—stay focused.”

  Despite the record winning streak against PH and getting off to a good start for the second consecutive year, Johnson feels Atlee still has much to accomplish. “All these years we’ve been the groomsmen, not the groom; or the bridesmaids, not the bride,” he said. “We’ve done all this, but when it’s all said and done, we haven’t gotten in the playoffs.  We’ve started strong the last two years.  What have we done to show for it?  This group of guys is pretty much saying, ‘You know what, Coach?  We’re trying to stay consistent and not fall off, and stay humble.  This group is doing a heck of a job.  We’re getting better and better.”

  Atlee travels to Douglas Freeman this Friday while Patrick Henry hosts Lee-Davis in the annual Tomato Bowl.

P. Henry….................0   0   0 6 —  6
Atlee…..................... 7 16 14 7 — 44
A — McCombs 32 pass from Rucker (Pulisic kick)
A — McCombs 34 pass from Rucker (Pulisic kick)
A — Burriss sacks Mock, safety
A — Hall 16 run (Pulisic kick)
A — McCombs 29 pass from Rucker (Pulisic kick)
A — Williams 30 pass from Rucker (Pulisic kick)
A — Williams 34 from Berry (Pulisic kick)
PH — Wong 51 pass from Phelps (kick failed)