Jabriel Moody put the faux boxing championship belt across his right shoulder as his Atholton High football teammates cheered loudly late Friday evening.

Moody officially was home again, and the 10th-ranked Raiders have the inside track to the Howard County championship after a 14-7 victory over River Hill in a hard fought battle of undefeated squads in Columbia.

Dillan Watkins rushed for 114 yards and a score for Atholton, which improved to 6-0 overall and in league play. Omar Hassan’s six-yard touchdown pass to senior Tyler Windsor accounted for River Hill’s only score.

The Raiders used Moody’s second quarter interception return and a second half dissertation in ball control football to gain a full-game lead over the Hawks and Howard (5-1), which defeated Glenelg, 24-14, Friday evening in Western Howard County.

“It feels really good, everything’s intact,” said Atholton coach Eric Woodson. “Going into the preseason our goals were county title, go past the quarterfinals…let’s win the quarterfinals and let’s get to states. Whatever happens in states is there for us.”

The Raiders’ aspirations are very real, thanks to Moody, who stepped in front of a Hassan pass in the flat and ran untouched 51 yards to the end zone, tying the game at 7 with seven minutes, 59 seconds before halftime.

Moody said the play developed as he had studied during the week.

“When I caught it there was a lot of going through my mind, I didn’t think I was even going to make a play on the ball,” said Moody. “I felt it bobble a little bit, I did not want to drop it.”

Moody played junior varsity as a freshman, then transferred to DuVal in Prince George’s County for his sophomore and junior campaigns. He returned to the Columbia school for his senior season.

Moody’s presence has been a boon for an Atholton team looking to make a run at a first state championship.

“He’s been the heart of the team,” said Dillan Watkins. “He brings the energy and you need a guy like that to be successful.”

“He brings physicality and leadership,” said Scott.

In a battle Friday defined at the point of attack, the Raiders bested River Hill when it mattered over the final 24 minutes of regulation. Watkins capped Atholton’s opening touch of the second half with a 6-yard touchdown run.

The nine-play, 50 -yard drive, included a pair of third down conversions by senior quarterback Miles Scott, who connected with Ian Morton for 16 yards before Watkins’ lead score with 5:56 left in the third.

After forcing River Hill to punt, Atholton got possession with 10:22 left in regulation. The Raiders didn’t give the ball back, getting River Hill’s 11-yard line before Scott knelt three times to erase the final 1:45.

Atholton ran 13 plays, minus Scott’s final kneel downs, converting three third-downs and a pair of 4th-and-1 plays by Scott.

“It was the o-line and the play calling,” said Scott, who completed nine-of-16 passes for 52 yards.

Woodson said the backfield of Scott and Watkins with a veteran offensive front featuring Owen Berngartt, Anijae Byrd, Mark Enamorado, Benjamin Hebron, Gerson Mardi and Mason Slusher allows Atholton to attack defenses in a variety of ways.

“We practice tempo and getting in and out of formations,” said Woodson, whose offensive unit committed one penalty Friday.

The other mistake was a fumble, recovered by River Hill at the Raiders’ 11 late in the opening quarter. The Raiders converted as Hassan hit on a quick pop play early in the second quarter.

The Hawks set up a deep downfield pass play for Hawkins that was knocked away.

On the next play, Moody was off to the end zone for the pick-six.

“That was a big play. We had some momentum, got the ball back and they made a play,” said River Hill coach Brian Van Deusen, whose team gained 71 yards Friday. “They made a couple of more plays than we did.”

Atholton, which shared the Howard County crown with Glenelg and Oakland Mills last season, control its destiny. The Raiders play at Marriotts Ridge (Friday) and Howard (Oct. 21) before closing the regular season at home against Reservoir Oct. 28.

“I take accountability very seriously, that’s one thing I’ve been trying to get the team on track with,” said Moody. “Accountability is why Georgia won the national championship…I want to do that for my team and get that ring.”

NO. 11 ATHOLTON 14, RIVER HILL 7

River Hill 0 7 0 0 - 7

Atholton 0 14 0 0 - 14

Second quarter

River Hill - Tyler Windsor 6 pass from Omar Hassan (Vipin Chaganti kick)

Atholton - Jabriel Moody 51 interception return

Third quarter

Atholton - Dillan Watkins 6 run (Justin Soriano kick)