Maybe it was homecoming magic.

Thomas Jefferson and Decatur both moved the ball at will to start with Friday, but TJ punched the ball in three times after it got close to the end zone in a 21-2 win.

The Gators, meanwhile, had drives that ended at such places as the 7-yard line on a fumble, the 6-yard line, the 22-yard line and the 23-yard line.

"We're still growing as a football team," said Decatur first year head coach Leon Hatch. "The success our kids have is not necessarily at the football field, but you see it in the classroom and in the hallways. Their grades are good and they have good citizenship. It will turn up on the football field eventually. Everything will work its way to the football field."

First year Thomas Jefferson head coach Dean Peck also still felt positive about his team after its first win of the year despite a few problems.

"We made a lot of stupid penalties," he said. "Outside of that, everything was great. We had good defense and our offense did a great job. Mel Frank, my 'D' coordinator, stepped up and did a real good job this week."

The Raiders' offense was hot behind the 194 passing yards of Taylor Stark and the 130 receiving yards of Bryant Cameron.

"Taylor and Bryant were really good again," Peck said. "I thought they (Decatur) would bracket Bryant, but they didn't and it opened everything up."

Decatur received 101 rushing yards from Chase King and 29 yards from Cameron Schilling.

Neither team reached the end zone until 5:36 remained in the second quarter, when Stark threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Cameron on the left side of the end zone. Erik Harshfield kicked the point after touchdown for a 7-0 Raider lead.

TJ's next touchdown came with 1:15 left in the half on a 26-yard connection from Stark to Cameron. Harshfield kicked another PAT to make it 14-0.

Decatur finally got on the scoreboard with 10:03 to go in the third quarter, but it was defensive scoring. The Raiders were attempting to punt the ball from their own 20 when they lost it through the back side of the end zone for a two-point safety to Decatur.

Thomas Jefferson answered with 5:05 left in the third quarter on a 7-yard run by Victor Diep. Harshfield's kick brought the final score to 21-2.

Both defenses stopped the other team's offense from there.

TJ visits Kentridge for a 7 p.m. game at French Field Thursday and the Gators will be at home playing Federal Way Friday.

"It's another crosstown," Hatch said. "We're just going to go one step at a time. We got to stay after it."