Criswell’s Three Touchdowns Help Atkins Retain Rivals Cup
Atkins 64, Dover 28
ATKINS — Bre’lan Criswell scored three touchdowns, including a 55-yard punt return, as Atkins defeated Dover 64-28 Friday to retain the Rivals Cup for a third consecutive year.
Dover opened with a 4-yard touchdown run by fullback Zeke Brown. Mason Vick answered with a 9-yard scoring run, tying it 7-7.
Cooper Goodall capped a 97-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. Dover quarterback Matthew Krentz scored on a 1-yard sneak with 4:18 remaining, tying the game at 14. Krentz’s drive included a first-down completion to Sailor Smith inside Atkins’ 15.
Atkins scored twice during the final minute of the half. Quarterback Ethan Linboom’s 17-yard run set up Criswell’s 3-yard touchdown with 55 seconds left. Criswell hurdled a Dover defender and returned a punt 55 yards for another score with 14 seconds remaining, sending Atkins into halftime ahead 28-14.
Goodall scored from 27 yards just 35 seconds into the third quarter. Linboom’s two-point pass to Noah Metcalf made it 36-14, completing a 22-point burst in 90 seconds of game time.
Dover answered with a 27-yard touchdown run to make it 36-20. Atkins responded with Linboom’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Metcalf. Dover blocked the extra point. Criswell added a 5-yard touchdown run, and Goodall’s two-point run extended the lead to 50-20.
Brown scored from 3 yards in the fourth quarter. Hudson Folkers ran for the conversion, bringing Dover within 50-28. Brown finished with 87 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries, plus nine tackles.
Tate Sweeden scored on an 8-yard run with 6:17 remaining. Brylin Keeling subsequently recovered a fumble at Atkins’ 33, setting up the final touchdown.
Quarterback Braxton Coffman completed a 7-yard scoring pass to Jaxson Koenigseder with 31 seconds left. Mike Guerro’s sixth successful extra point made it 64-28.
Both teams finished the night 1-1.
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
Dover – Zeke Brown 4-yard run (Hudson Folkers kick), 6:12, Dover 7-0.
Atkins – Mason Vick 9-yard run (Mike Guerro kick), 4:44, 7-7.
2nd Quarter
Atkins – Cooper Goodall 3-yard run (Mike Guerro kick), 9:57, Atkins 14-7.
Dover – Matthew Krentz 1-yard run (Hudson Folkers kick), 4:18, 14-14.
Atkins – Bre’lan Criswell 3-yard run (Mike Guerro kick), 0:55, Atkins 21-14.
Atkins – Bre’lan Criswell 55-yard punt return (Mike Guerro kick), 0:14, Atkins 28-14.
3rd Quarter
Atkins – Cooper Goodall 27-yard run (Noah Metcalf pass from Ethan Linboom), 11:25, Atkins 36-14.
Dover – 27-yard run, (kick failed), 8:26, Atkins 36-20.
Atkins – Noah Metcalf 9-yard pass from Ethan Linboom (kick blocked), 6:34, Atkins 42-20.
Atkins – Bre’lan Criswell 5-yard run (Cooper Goodall run), 1:45, Atkins 50-20.
4th Quarter
Dover – Zeke Brown 3-yard run (Hudson Folkers run), 7:30, Atkins 50-28.
Atkins – Tate Sweeden 8-yard run (Mike Guerro kick), 6:17, Atkins 57-28.
Atkins – Jaxson Koenigseder 7-yard pass from Braxton Coffman (Mike Guerro kick), 0:31, Atkins 64-28.
Players Who Stood Out
Bre’lan Criswell, Atkins running back/receiver: Three touchdowns — runs of 3 and 5 yards and a 55-yard punt return. Scored twice in the final 55 seconds of the first half.
Cooper Goodall, Atkins running back/linebacker: Two rushing touchdowns, covering 3 and 27 yards, plus a two-point conversion run. Made a first-quarter tackle for a 4-yard loss.
Zeke Brown, Dover fullback/linebacker: 16 carries for 87 yards and two touchdowns; nine tackles, including five solo stops. Scored on runs of 4 and 3 yards.
Ethan Linboom, Atkins quarterback: Threw a 9-yard touchdown pass and a two-point conversion pass to Metcalf. Added a 17-yard run that set up Criswell’s touchdown immediately before halftime.
Brylin Keeling, Atkins defensive back: One fumble recovery, securing possession at Atkins’ 33 with 3:33 remaining. The takeaway set up Coffman’s touchdown pass to Koenigseder.