Watkins’ big night carries Atholton past Glenelg

Dillan Watkins broke free of a tackle and had nothing but open field ahead of him. He scampered 37 yards down the field to score, putting Atholton High comfortably in front of Glenelg.

Watkins’ score, with less than four minutes left in regulation, sealed the 14th-ranked Raiders’ 21-7 win over the Gladiators in a Howard County football battle, Friday night. Watkins finished with 242 yards and two touchdowns.

Watkins knew what it meant when he crossed the goal line in the fourth and silenced Glenelg’s home audience.

“I’m thinking ‘game over,’” Watkins said. “I saw the end zone, I’m thinking ‘game over.’ It was time to end it.”

Watkins, a senior, was the best offensive weapon the Raiders (2-0 overall and Howard) had Friday evening. Every battering run, every broken tackle swung the game further in his team’s direction as Watkins flourished with brother and fullback Deacon Watkins providing a lead block, and an offensive line controlling the trenches.

Dillian Watkins was thankful for brother Deacon, even going as far as to say that he played better than him Friday.

“It means the world, I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” Dillan Watkins said. “That’s my brother, I wouldn’t rather do it with anyone else.”

Dillan’s 242 yards Friday was a career-high.

“The line came out, did what they had to do,” Watkins said. “I just have to thank them. Without them, that wouldn’t have been possible.”

After a scoreless first quarter, Atholton, which shared the Howard league crown with Glenelg and Oakland Mills last fall, got on the board first Friday. Miles Scott found the end zone on a two-yard run.

Later in the quarter, Dillan Watkins scored his first touchdowns on a three-yard effort. Glenelg (1-1, 1-1 Howard) scored its only touchdown of the game in the second quarter as Ethan Sotka plunged into the end zone from a yard out on a direct snap, tying the game at 7-7.

Atholton coach Eric Woodson said he wanted to spread his offense out early. He quickly changed his mind with Watkins, his 6-foot, 210-pound bellcow and the Raiders’ offensive line imposing their will.

“To see those guys move those kids off the ball, we didn’t see that week one,” Woodson said. “We were catching blocks. Tonight we were moving people.”

Despite Watkins’ impressive performance, Woodson believes he isn’t the only ball carrier Atholton will rely on this fall. Cameron Lee and Tareeq Abdul-Hamid also found chunks on the ground Friday.

Glenelg, who fell to the Raiders in Columbia last season (26-24), were in contention until Dillan Watkins’ backbreaking run late in regulation. Glenelg recovered an early fumble, but was not able to capitalize on several Atholton bad snaps.

“Our kids played hard,” Glenelg coach Tim Cullen said. “But Atholton is clearly the better team.”

NO. 14 ATHOLTON 21, GLENELG 7

Atholton 0 14 0 7 — 21

Glenelg 0 7 0 0 — 7

Second quarter

Atholton - Miles Scott 2 run (Justin Soriano kick)

Glenelg - Ethan Sotka 1 run (Michael Fernades kick)

Atholton - Dillan Watkins 3 run (Soriano kick)

Fourth quarter

Atholton - Watkins 37 run (Soriano kick)

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