Football Game of the Week: No. 11 Atholton at No. 3 River Hill

Football Game of the Week

No. 11 Atholton (1-1) at No. 3 River Hill (2-0)

When

: Friday, 7 p.m.

Coaches

: Kyle Schmitt, Atholton; Brian Van Deusen, River Hill

Last meeting

: Atholton, 10-0, last season

Key players to watch:

Atholton

: Brian McMahon Sr., QB (425 yards passing and 3 TDs, 150 yards rushing and 2 TDs); Dequan Ellison, Sr., WR (11 catches for 205 yards, 1 TD), Steve Whiting Sr., OL/LB (3 sacks); Kenny Thomas, Sr., RB/CB (117 yards rushing and 2 TDs); Ean Katz, Sr., LB (20 tackles, 1 forced fumble); Austin Tennessee, Sr., WR/CB.

River Hill

: Randall Lawson, Sr., HB/CB (11 tackles, 1 INT); Raamah Vaughn, Sr., QB/CB (8 tackles); Davis Grove, Sr., TE/LB (8 tackles, 3 catches for 71 yards); Riley Davis, Sr., TE/LB (18 tackles); Alec Rau, Sr., TE/DB (18 tackles, 3 sacks); Emmett Brew, Sr., SB/LB (22 tackles, 5 sacks); Ryan Higgins, Sr., LB (21 tackles, 3 sacks)

Keys to victory:

Atholton's victory over the Hawks last season was their first since 1997. Not only had the Hawks beaten the Raiders 13 straight times, but they had also won 48 straight games against Howard County competition before that October setback. McMahon scored the only touchdown and made a key defensive play in the second half while the Hawks turned the ball over four times during the game.

Both coaches said the key to victory Friday likely lies with the line. Both sides have a deep running game, and everything starts on the ground.

"I think both lines are very good, but I think that's kind of your X factor," Schmitt said. "Both sides have excellent skills players. It's a pretty even match, so the battle will be in the trenches. I think it was last year."

The Hawks suffered a blow to their rushing attack when senior Aaron Wells, who rushed for 1,500 yards and 18 touchdowns last season, was sidelined with bone bruise in his knee and a torn lateral meniscus. Van Deusen said Wells could return within a few weeks. In the meantime, juniors Stephan Osong and Evan Griffin each ran for more than 100 yards in Monday's win over Long Reach.

As always, turnovers will be another key. They all but doomed the Hawks in last season's meeting, along with some critical penalties.

"We had four turnovers last year, and they played pretty much mistake free," Van Deusen said. "We did get one interception, but we had a touchdown called back and right after that, we fumbled on the 2-[yard line], so those types of mistakes we can't have again."

With the two school districts side by side and many of the players having grown up playing rec ball and going to middle school together, such close proximity breeds an inherent rivalry. But it has been heightened in recent years.

While the Hawks will be out to avenge last season's loss, the Raiders have their own sense of urgency.

Forced to forfeit their season opener against Glenelg because of a summer practice rules violation, the Raiders will need every win they can get in a tough county race. Both teams are also in a potentially tight Class 3A East regional race that includes their top county competition, defending state champ Wilde Lake and Hammond, which shared the county title last season with the Hawks.

Other games to watch:

Boys' Latin at No. 5 McDonogh, Friday, 4 p.m.

Red Lion (Del.) at No. 2 Calvert Hall, Friday, 7 p.m.

Hereford at No. 15 Franklin, Friday, 7 p.m.

Digital Harbor at No. 9 Poly, Friday, 7 p.m.

Linganore at Westminster, Friday, 7 p.m.

Central Maryland Christian at Maryland Christian, Saturday, 1 p.m.

No. 7 Dunbar vs. City (at Poly), Saturday, 6 p.m.

--