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**Check below the story for video highlights, interviews from both coaches and Suitland quarterback Devonte Lindsey**
UPPER MARLBORO- Suitland head coach Nick Lynch was one point away from leading his team into a berth in the Class 4A state championship last season. A traditional power behind its 13-year coach -- who himself touts 100-plus wins -- the Rams opened 2008 with a 40-point win, appearing that yet again, they are the class of the Prince George's County. Henry Wise, on the other hand, is an upstart third-year program with first-rate facilities, trying desperately to mimic Suitland's success behind a young, enthusiastic coach in DaLawn Parrish.
The Rams proved that the Pumas still have a couple of cliques to travel before uprooting Suitland atop the league standings by virtue of its 28-14 victory on a hot, muggy Saturday afternoon. But after a 29-point shutout last season, Wise hung tough, until an intentional grounding flag on fourth down erased a would-be chance for a last-minute Pumas drive.
On the subsequent play, Rams running back Kevin Williams rumbled through the Wise secondary en route to a 15-yard insurance touchdown. Williams, who also scored on a 24-yard touchdown up the right sideline in the first quarter, flipped into the endzone on a toss sweep for the two-point conversion, pushing the game to its final 14-point margin.
"He's a guy that we've been talking about that has to be a big part of our offense," Lynch, who notched his 111th career win. "He kept chugging away."
In a game marred by penalties and repeated stoppages for players cramping -- some more than once -- Suitland struck first, taking advantage of Wise's mishandling of the opening kickoff.
"It was big," Lynch said of grabbing the early lead. "I told my kids about coming out and punching guys in the face early."
Williams' aforementioned run gave the Rams a two-touchdown advantage in late in the first quarter. Following an interception by the Suitland safety on the ensuing possession, the Rams nearly went up three scores in the same quarter, driving the ball within the Wise 10-yard line. However, the Pumas defense withheld a fourth down pitch, forcing Suitland to turn the ball over on downs.
After the teams traded possessions, Wise threatened late in the second quarter, especially when 6-foot-2 Titus Till, a junior wideout, had sophomore Deandre Smith's fourth down heave slip through his fingers in the endzone.
"The emotions were real low," Parrish said. "They were shell shocked. I told them to keep fighting and that hopefully positive things will happen."
Things looked even bleaker when Suitland senior Anthony Bush, a 5-foot-7, 160-pound spark plug, returned the second-half kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown. The Rams couldn't convert the two-point conversion, leaving them with a 20-0 advantage.
"I told the kids at halftime that if we get a big return, we can put them away right now," Lynch said.
At that point, Wise, who won its seventh game in school history with a 62-0 thrashing of High Point in the season-opener, was reeling and facing an embarrassing blowout on its home turf.
"[The kickoff] hurt," Parrish admitted. "That's big. It's like a roller coaster ride -- you're either going to give up or keep fighting. Fortunately for us, they kept fighting. Two years ago, that would have been the end."
Wise, to its credit, clawed back. Facing fourth down around midfield, Till found junior wide receiver Trevon Butler on a fake punt pass completion. Two plays later, Smith connected with Butler, who out jumped the Suitland safety. Wright Anthony, who had a game-high 141 rushing yards on 26 carries, converted on the two-point conversion.
After a quick Suitland possession, Wise took over at its own 43. With senior starter J.R. Burrell fighting cramps, Parrish sent in the untested Smith, normally a wide receiver and cornerback, exclusively at quarterback. Smith, a 5-foot-8, 160-pounder, was impressive, mixing intermediate passes and short screens before finding Butler on a long completion down the middle of the field. He finished 7-of-11 for 74 yards passing and a touchdown.
"I was real impressed with Smith," Parrish said. "We limited his packages this week. He really stepped up big. He kept fighting and took a couple of shots. He was looking at me like he got his bell rung. The kids rallied around him and he did an excellent job."
Anthony capped the drive off with two-yard touchdown. The 5-foot-7, 160-pound tailback couldn't find the endzone on the two-point conversion, leaving Wise with a six-point deficit.
After Suitland was forced to punt, Wise had a potential go-ahead drive, but couldn't muster any offense with four minutes remaining. On third down, Burrell was flushed from the pocket and was flagged for intentional grounding. On fourth down, the Pumas again attempted a fake punt, but the throw was incomplete.
"We knew they were a good team," said Suitland junior quarterback Devonte Lindsey, who transferred from C.H. Flowers in the offseason. "Once we got a lead early, they battled back at the end and we toughed it out."
Suitland is uncharacteristically inexperienced, with eight starters returning from last season -- all of who were on defense. The offense, remains a work in progress, especially illustrated by Lynch's often frustrated demeanor on the sidelines.
"We have to learn during the course of the season about putting people away," Lynch said. "We didn't do that today, I didn't think... We were in a dogfight where maybe, we didn't have to be. [Wise] stepped up and played well."
On the other side, Parrish, though unhappy with the loss, still cited positives he can pluck away from the 14-point defeat. Through two games, Smith had 105 passing yards and two touchdowns, while Anthony is averaging 125 yards on the ground. Junior Justin Coles has 143 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while Butler leads the team with 114 yards receiving and two touchdowns. Still, despite the statistics, Parrish understands that with a new program trying to establish itself, coming from behind isn't the ingredient for success.
"When you play a good team, you can't get down early," Parrish said. "If you're fighting to be a good team, that's what you have to do. Our guys continued to fight and unfortunately didn't get that win, but there are a lot of positives. We learned about us. We found people we can trust. I know we're going to get better week-to-week."
1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Final
Suitland 14 0 6 8 28
Henry Wise 0 0 6 8 14
E-mail: egilmore@digitalsports.com
