Suitland Gets a Kick From Davis

As Suitland's kicker, senior Yanni Davis doesn't indulge himself too much. He acknowledges that he rarely gets a chance to affect the outcome of a game, and whatever he can do to make some extra points following touchdowns is good enough.

Yesterday in Greenbelt, however, Davis made the game-changing play. His 28-yard field goal -- just the fourth kicked by a public school team in Prince George's County this season -- proved to be decisive in the fifth-ranked Rams' 15-14 victory at Eleanor Roosevelt.

"I really don't think about it at all," Davis said when asked how critical his kicking game is to Suitland's overall success. "I know we score touchdowns most of the time, but in that case, I had to make that kick."

Suitland (6-0) had taken a 12-6 edge midway through the third quarter on senior Darius Cain's second touchdown run of the game -- a one-yarder. But, as was the case following Cain's five-yard score in the first quarter, Davis missed the extra point.

Roosevelt punted following its next possession, and Suitland drove downfield, but faced a fourth and 10 from the Raiders 11. With nine minutes to play, Suitland Coach Nick Lynch sent in Davis to kick the field goal that would put the Rams ahead by two scores.

"That's something we practice," Lynch said. "A lot of times you don't practice it, and you wind up paying for it. We put our trust in Yanni."

Davis had proven his mettle last season. In a 14-13 playoff victory over C.H. Flowers, Davis not only caught both touchdowns, he also kicked both extra points. His extra point in overtime proved decisive in the Rams' 39-38 victory over Sherwood in the 4A Final.

"We trusted his foot," Cain said. "A lot of teams don't choose to kick, but we do."

Roosevelt (1-5, with four losses coming by forfeit) scored its first touchdown on a 93-yard kickoff return by junior Derrick Thomas following Suitland's first score. But beyond that, the Raiders were unable to get the ball inside the Suitland 35 until late in the second half.

When the Raiders forced Suitland to punt with just under two minutes left, junior Stephon Morris returned it 52 yards to the Rams 31.

Senior Kevin Poole ran 22 yards on the next play, and quarterback Mike Thomas scored on a keeper on the next play. He threw to junior Isaiah Ross on the next play for the two-point conversion to make it 15-14 with 1 minute 24 seconds left.

No. 5 Suitland 15, Eleanor Roosevelt 14

Always a Nail-biter: Dating from Roosevelt's 21-20 victory in 2004, the past four meetings between these teams have been decided by a total of six points. Suitland has won the past three.

Flags Were Flying: The teams combined for 22 penalties, including seven apiece in the first half, and the game lasted close to three hours.