The Richard Montgomery Rockets took on the Northwood Gladiators for the football season’s first Thursday night home game, cheered on by the “Men in Black” themed student section.

The Gladiators got off to a slow start when their initial kickoff traveled only 20 yards. The excellent field position for the Rockets led to a touchdown run from junior running back Aaron Thomas to give the Rockets a lead, which they never gave back.

Northwood needed a morale boost after giving up an easy touchdown, but the Rockets’ defense held firm on fourth down and short to force a turnover on downs. This led to another offensive drive with excellent field position for the Rockets. Senior quarterback Anthony Dixon Jr. was hit as he threw the ball, but junior Khalil Wilson caught a long touchdown pass to extend the lead.

Behind two touchdowns, the Gladiators needed to gain momentum. But their pursuit was interrupted when Rockets senior defensive back Alijah Forde intercepted a Northwood pass at the 50-yard line and returned the ball for a pick-six.

The RM defensive onslaught continued for the next two drives resulting in a fumble scoop-and-score touchdown and another pick-six, both by Wilson.

With the game largely out of reach for the struggling Gladiators, senior Teshaun Ryals-Wilson added insult to injury with a rushing touchdown down the left sideline.

Late in the third quarter, the Rockets’ starters were taken out of the blowout game and the Gladiators managed to convert a pair of garbage-time touchdowns. However, sophomore receiver Tavares “Boogie” Vaughan-Cooper got a touchdown for the Rockets to make the final score 49-13 Rockets, who improved their record to 2-2. Their next game is at Seneca Valley on Sept. 29 at 6:30 p.m.

“It was a nice game to come back from Northwest and to get our momentum back,” senior tackler Evonte Ventura Noland said. “The win felt deserved for all the hard work we put in—we came out, dominated and displayed that.”