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When third-year Rockville football coach Mark Maradei first scheduled Friday's home meeting with Caravel Academy, he knew it would be a tough matchup. The Buccaneers have been to four consecutive Delaware state Division-II championship games and are coming off an 11-1 season where their only loss was in the state final.

But Maradei wanted the challenge. And though Caravel handed Rockville its first loss of the season, 35-6, Maradei was pleased with his team's fight.

"Caravel is a team that's consistently in the state finals," Maradei said. "I knew what I was getting into and I was okay with that. They're a very good team and I think we played very well, all things considered."

The Rams (3-1) struggled against the bigger and stronger Buccaneers (3-1), but did show what they're capable of when on. Rockville featured a balanced attack Friday, rather than the predominantly rushing-oriented game that had gotten it three wins early in 2008.

Sophomore running back Crusoe Gongbay did run for 95 yards on 19 carries, but the bigger story was senior quarterback Peter Nalle, who had his biggest game of the year. He completed 12 of 28 pass attempts for 156 yards and a touchdown, a 5-yarder to Gongbay.

"They had only 35 kids on their roster, but they could recruit all 35 of those kids," said Maradei. "Essentially, this is the third year of us building a program here and it was time for a measuring stick. As far as I'm concerned, we're a better team after playing a team like that."

After last week, Rockville was in third place in the 2A West Division standings. Last year, the Rams made the postseason last year for the first time in a decade.

"I can't say I'm happy with a loss but I think we learned a lot," Maradei said. "I'm pleased with the way we threw the ball. And our kids never quit. This was a building block for us as we continue to move forward. No doubt these kids will embrace this challenge brought on by defeat."