Prince George's 4A
Raiders Narrowly Edge Clippers
Eleanor Roosevelt 33, Oxon Hill 28
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Sunday, September 14, 2008
Eleanor Roosevelt Coach Tom Green figured his team's performance against Oxon Hill yesterday would be a good indication of where the sixth-ranked Raiders were at early in the 2008 season. After a narrow 33-28 win over the Clippers, Green knows his team still has work to do.
A quick look at the stats would indicate a comfortable win for Eleanor Roosevelt (2-0). The Raiders outgained their opponents in total offense, 477 yards to 278, and in first downs, 23-13. But a closer look reveals Eleanor Roosevelt's two fumbles and 107 penalty yards.
"We've still got to limit the mental errors," said Green, a first-year coach. "We have a lot of fight, and we keep playing hard, and that's a good thing, but we've got to eliminate some mental errors."
The game turned at the beginning of the third quarter. Up 14-6, the Raiders marched down the field for a six-minute, 15-play drive that culminated with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Mike Thomas to Derrick Thomas that came on fourth and seven.
"We were doing too much," said Mike Thomas, no relation to fellow senior Derrick. "We were being too fancy. So we just took the easy passes. We came out strong [in the third]."
Soon thereafter, the Raiders went up 27-6 to close out the third quarter, which seemed to wake up the Clippers (1-1).
Oxon Hill scored three touchdowns in the final period, including a 10-yard run by quarterback Michael Wilson with just under 10 minutes left, and a 30-yard pass from Wilson to Malik Cross midway through the final period.
But the Raiders sealed it with their final score, a 15-yard run from Mike Thomas on fourth and goal that made it 33-20.
A late three-yard score from the Clippers' Leo Gordon made it 33-28, but Eleanor Roosevelt recovered the ensuing onside kick to end the game.
Mike Thomas finished 10 of 19 for 208 yards and two touchdowns through the air, and added 35 yards and a score on the ground. Derrick Thomas caught four passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns.
"They played exceptional," said Green of the two Thomases. "They got us some big plays."
No. 6 Eleanor Roosevelt 33, Oxon Hill 28
Ground Gainers: Oxon Hill's Leo Gordon and Michael Wilson combined for 23 carries and 187 yards on the ground in the losing effort.
Pass-Catcher: The Clippers' Malik Cross finished with seven receptions for 66 yards and a score.
