Thomas Jefferson tangled with perennial power Kentwood for four quarters Thursday and for the most part got the job done.

But the Conquerors prevailed by a 28-0 score in the end, gradually building the lead one step at a time throughout the game.

"I thought for the most part we played really good defense," said first year Thomas Jefferson coach Dean Peck. "In time we'll get the whole package."

The defense was not as good as it can be, either. Joe Satterwhite, a defensive and offensive lineman, was wheeled out in a cart at the end of the second quarter.

Satterwhite stands at 6-foot-2, 235 pounds and the junior presence was missed.

"When we lost Joe Satterwhite it left a big hole defensively in the line," Peck said.

Kentwood scored its third touchdown only four plays into the third quarter as senior running back Artise Gauldin rumbled 30 yards into the end zone. Conqueror kicker Matt Bell slipped the conversion kick through the uprights and that put the score at 21-0.

Kentwood slowly pecked away at the Raider defense for their final touchdown, which came only seven seconds into the fourth quarter at the end of a 13-play drive.

Quarterback Luke Angevine threw a 10-yard strike to Danny Bounds, who caught the ball while diving at the right side of the end zone.

Thomas Jefferson controlled the ball for most of the remaining time in the fourth quarter.

But the Raiders did not break out to score and squelch the shutout.

"We had trouble on third downs," Peck said. "Their defense was all about stopping Cameron and they did a good job of it."

Bryant Cameron is the Raiders' standout wide receiver, who was kept out of the end zone despite his catching abilities and the strong arm of quarterback Taylor Stark.

Angevine, Stark's counterpart on the Conquerors' roster, took his team down field for two touchdowns in the first quarter.

He scored the first on a 6-yard keeper with 7:19 left in the quarter and he handed off to Demitrius Bronson with Bronson breaking into the open for a 68-yard score. Bell then kicked his second of four extra point tries to make it 14-0.

Thomas Jefferson came close to scoring on several drives, including one to the Kentwood 2-yard line in the first quarter. But back-to-back sacks of Stark stopped that 11-play drive cold.

The Raiders had a drive to the Conquerors' six stopped on downs late in the fourth quarter. A drive to the 10-yard line was halted by Kentwood in the second quarter.

Federal Way will be the next team to try and solve the Kentwood riddle when it visits French Field in Kent at 7 p.m. Thursday.

TJ takes on crosstown rival Decatur in a 7 p.m. Friday game at Federal Way Memorial Field.