MECHANICSVILLE
With the loss of quarterback Matt Rose and running backs Nate Williams and Ethan Edwards, Southampton Academy head coach Dale Marks thought that this year’s squad would have some bumps along the way. Through two games, however, the Raiders haven’t seen a drop off.

“The biggest question mark coming into the season was tailback,” Marks said. “But Jalen [Myrik] and Tyler [Dodson] have filled in adequately.”

Myrik, a junior, was the star of Friday night’s 62-20 win over Grace Christian Academy, scoring four touchdowns on only five touches. That included three rushes for 67 yards and two catches for 97 yards.

“Jalen has been a pleasant surprise,” Marks said.

Those explosive plays were a theme throughout the night, Marks added, as the Raiders took the lead on a defensive touchdown. The Rams threw a screen pass, but Dodson flew in, stripped the ball and ran it back 45-yards for six points.

On the first play of the subsequent Southampton Academy drive, first-year starting quarterback Andrew Lowe hit Myrik for a 40-yard touchdown to give the Raiders a 16-0 lead. After Roy Hill punched it in from two yards out, the tandem of Lowe and Myrik hooked up again for 51-yard touchdown. Backup quarterback Sam Rose, who plays cornerback on defense, took an errant pass 31-yards for a touchdown on the Rams’ ensuing drive, extending the lead to 38-0 with just over a minute remaining in the first quarter. From there, the head ball coach had his second team finish the contest.

“You know you’re playing well when you get a pair of defensive scores in the first quarter,” Marks said. “The thing I’m most surprised of is the way we are throwing and catching the ball.”

The Raiders return home from their two-game road trip when Hobgood Academy visits Courtland on Friday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 o’clock.