The Atholton Raiders will challenge the Glenelg Gladiators at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday.
Atholton is coming in off a wild two-game stretch: after soaring to 37 points last Thursday, they were much more limited against Oakland Mills on Friday. They were dealt a 43-13 defeat at the hands of the Scorpions. The Raiders were in a tough position after the first half, with the score already sitting at 36-0.
Tyler Bell put forth a good effort for the losing side as he rushed for 32 yards and one touchdown, and also threw for 134 yards and one TD.
Meanwhile, Glenelg can bid farewell to their three-game losing streak thanks to their game on Friday. They blew past Long Reach 40-3. The Gladiators might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won four matchups by 23 points or more this season.
Glenelg's win came from a few key players Atholton will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Jailen Johnson, who rushed for 101 yards and a pair of scores on only eight carries. He really tore up the turf during one magnificent 72-yard run. Another player making a difference was Dwane Morgan, who rushed for 96 yards and one TD on only five carries.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Glenelg was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 263 rushing yards. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their rushing yard total in three consecutive contests.
On the defensive side of the ball, a lot of the credit has to go to Glenelg's defense and their four sacks. Leading the way was Russell McIntyre with two. Glenelg got some further help from Max Beares: he forced one fumble and made 11 total tackles (2.0 for loss).
Atholton's loss dropped their record down to 5-3. As for Glenelg, their win bumped their record up to an identical 5-3.
Thursday's game might be decided on the ground. Atholton has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 148.4 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Glenelg struggles in that department as they've been averaging 210.4 rushing yards. There's a good chance Thursday's matchup turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Atholton came up short against Glenelg when the teams last played back in September of 2023, falling 17-9. Will the Raiders have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
