Raphael Talisman/The Gazette Eleanor Roosevelt quarterback Mike Thomas runs for a first down during the fourth quarter of the Raiders' 21-2 win at Suitland on Saturday.
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The Raiders allowed the Rams to advance inside the Roosevelt 20-yard line just twice and held Suitland's offense scoreless. Roosevelt linebacker Isaiah Ross got two of the four Raiders' sacks on the afternoon.
The only points the Rams were able to muster came on a safety in the third quarter when Anthony Thomas and Aneko McClain sacked Raiders' quarterback Mike Thomas in the end zone.
Roosevelt coach Tom Green praised his offensive and defensive lines after the victory.
"These kids have been playing well all year," Green said of the line. "We really restricted what [Suitland] was able to do today."
Raiders' tailback A.J. Bryson spent most of the game on the sidelines after he suffered what the Roosevelt coaches said was a medial collateral ligament sprain in his left knee. The injury occurred as Bryson ended the Raiders' first series with a 31-yard touchdown run. Bryson gained 66 yards on the ground before the injury.
On the strength of Bryson's touchdown, Roosevelt held a 6-0 lead through halftime. The Raiders would not score again until late in the fourth quarter when Thomas took a quarterback keeper 21 yards for a touchdown, capping a nine-play, 90-yard drive. Thomas completed 3 of 6 passes for 52 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown pass to Tyrone General in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter.
The Rams were led by junior tailback Kevin Williams who finished the game with 62 yards rushing on 15 carries. Williams, Anthony Bush and Dontrewell Kelly combined for 117 yards on 30 carries.
Suitland committed five false start penalties, two of which came in the third quarter after the Rams had a first-and-goal at the Roosevelt 3-yard line. Suitland, which eventually turned the ball over, pinning the Raiders deep in their own territory. The Rams took advantage of the field position, sacking Thomas for a safety to make it 6-2. But Suitland was unable to move the ball on its ensuing possession.
