Thomas Jefferson football recorded their first win of the season, when they prevailed over Kentlake 35-21 in a thrilling Friday night match.
The Thomas Jefferson Raiders and the Kentlake Falcons went head to head with both teams looking to get their first win of the season during this game and they were not gonna hold back.
In the Oct. 11 match the Raiders kicked off to start the game and the Falcons fumbled the return giving the Raiders a chance for a scoop and score. Damari Singletary recovered the fumble and scored for the Raiders putting them up by six within a minute of the first quarter. Unfortunately the PAT was blocked by the Falcons, score 6-0.
Caiden George
TJ Football players pray before the game.
Both offenses were off to a slow start at the beginning of the first quarter until Kentlake recovered the ball in the red zone after a bad snap by the Raiders. After a couple plays the Kentlake Falcons scored. The PAT was good, putting Kentlake up by one with a few minutes left in the first quarter.
Afterwards, the Raiders were struggling to get their offense going and they punted the ball to the Falcons after a few plays, giving Kentlake the chance they needed to score at the end of the first quarter, score 14-6.
The Raiders went back on offense with nine minutes left in the second quarter looking to score again. They marched down the field from the 40 yard line and Mabin Guillen scored a one yard rushing TD for the Raiders. They went for a 2-point conversion but unfortunately failed, score 14-12 with Kentlake up.
Kentlake had the ball on offense with the second quarter coming to an end. They drove the ball downfield but the Raiders defense held their own and stopped them at the 20 yard line. Kentlake went for a field goal but it was blocked by the Raiders Aleksander Encinas and with that the first half ended.
The second half started with the Raiders on offense. With the ball placed on the 40 yard line, the Raiders marched down the field and managed to get into the redzone. Mabin Guillen threw it to a wide open Wyatt Anderson for a touchdown. Thomas Jefferson went for two again, but this time they were successful at completing the conversion. This put the Raiders up by eight, with the score being 20-14.
Kentlake got the ball back and struggled to get their offense going. At 4th & 1 Kentlake tried to run for a first down but the QB bobbled the snap and was tackled for loss.
After taking over on downs, Thomas Jefferson’s offense moved the ball down field gaining yards every play. At the 10 yard line Mabin Guillen threw the ball, but it was swatted and picked off by the Falcons defense.
Kentlake’s offense seemed to still be struggling against the Raiders defense and turned the ball over on 4th & 5 after an incomplete pass.
As soon as the Raiders got the ball back they made an explosive play with a 24-yard run. They kept pounding the ball on the Falcons defense and managed to score a rushing touchdown. They went for two again, and again succeeded. That put the score at 28-14 with the Raiders in the lead.
The Falcons went back on offense but got stopped once again and were forced to turn the ball over to the Raiders.
After a few plays the Raiders end up in the red zone. On 4th & 14 they passed the ball and it was completed for another touchdown. They kicked the extra point and it was good, the score surged to 35-14 with the Raiders still in the lead.
Unfortunately, the Raiders defense could not hold out and did end up letting Kentlake in the endzone one more time. Putting the score at 35-21.
And with that hard fought win, the Thomas Jefferson Raiders recorded a victory, their first of the season.