The Mays Raiders defeated the Langston Hughes Panthers 26-0 at Lakewood Stadium Friday evening. It was senior night for the Raiders and both teams were in need for a win after an 0-2 start to their season.
The Raiders would get things started on the first play of their opening drive in the first quarter when Jahquez Evans found Terrence Morton for a 58-yard touchdown reception. The Panthers defense would keep the Raiders out of the end zone for the rest of the first half as they went into halftime down 6-0.
Morton would come out of halftime firing as he returned the opening second-half kickoff for 86 yards putting the Raiders up 14-0. The Raiders defense came alive as they forced a turnover to take over in Panthers territory. On that same drive, Evans found Zaire Thornton for a 31-yard touchdown reception to extend the lead to 20.
Zadrien White and the Panthers would struggle to move the ball on offense, even while they were in Raiders territory. It was Morton’s night as he would be on the receiving end of an 11-yard touchdown reception after making an incredible catch over two Panther defenders.
The Raiders had control of this game from start to finish, earning them their first shutout of the season.
“We wanted to treat every game like a championship game and we were glad to come out with the win,” said Niketa Battle, head coach of the Raiders.
“Coaching and trusting the process. People thought we could not do it without our offensive coordinator,” said Morton when asked what influenced him to have a great game. “We just took two hard losses but those losses helped prepare us for this game.”
Morton would finish with three total touchdowns (two receiving and one kick return).
Mays will face New Manchester next Friday, Sept. 14 in Douglasville, Ga.
