The Line-Up . . . The Raiders begin an offensive play with a blocker on the right (Erik Wheeland), the running back in the center (Toby Kotinek) and quarterback who just handed the ball off (Krayton Kucera). Kotinek was injured later in the game and missed playing most of the game.
One of the newcomers to the Raider football team this season is Bayln Bargen who is a running back. He is not the largest player on the field, but he adds speed to the offensive backfield.
"It was the best of times . . . it was the worst of times . . ."
Someone far smarter than this reporter once felt the need to use the above quote to help describe activity they were experiencing. I couldn't help but use it to help explain the L-N Raider – Blue Hill football game from last Friday night. The game had something for almost everyone . . . and it lasted 12 seconds too long for the Raider fans.
Ya, BH scored the winning TD and PAT with 12 seconds on the clock . . . which came just 32 seconds after L-N regained the lead with 44 seconds left in the game at 52-46. This came after . . . etc., etc., etc.
The game had something for everyone: big plays for excitement, little plays for momentum, hand to hand combat, and finger-tip pass receptions, etc.
The game was almost as evenly played as the final score indicates. L-N led on the scoreboard until late in the third period when BH tied the score. The summary:
L-N 16 6 16 14 - 52
BH 0 16 14 24 - 54
Quarter 1: On the Raider's first possession they used two plays to score. Krayton Kucera broke a 38 yard run on the first play and then finished up on the next play with a 4 yard TD run. He then ran the PAT. Score: 8-0.
BH ran ten plays and punted. After a ten yard penalty, L-N started on their own 14 yard line. Kucera and Toby Kotinek shared running duties and after seven plays, Kotinek scored on a 13 yard jaunt. Kucera ran the PAT. Score 16-0.
The ball changed hands and BH ended the quarter with the ball.
Quarter No. 2: Blue Hill scored twice. On their first possession and on their second. L-N scored once in the period between those two just mentioned. The score came on a ten play, 67 yard drive after started on their own 13 yard line. Highlights of the drive were 'finger-tip' catches by Erik Wheeland and Tyson Kotinek that combined for a total of 37 yards on the drive. The TD came on a four yard plunge by Kucera. The PAT failed. The half time score was 22-16.
Quarter No. 3: The second half started with Tyson Kotinek returning the kick-off 36 yards to give the Raiders a starting point of the BH 32 yard line. Eight plays later Kucera scored from the _ yard line and then ran the PAT to give L-N the lead of 30-16.
BH then scored twice in 15 seconds bracketed around a Raider kick-off fumble. Those two TD's made the score 30-30 with 3:20 left in the period.
Once again the Raiders fought back putting together a seven play, 54 yard TD drive with the score coming on a 14 yard Kucera to Wheeland pass with 0:22 left on the clock. A Kucera to Wheeland pass made the PAT good. _ score: 38-30.
Quarter No. 4: With one minute off the clock, BH scored and tied the game at 38-38.
L-N drove 55 yards but stalled on the BH 13 yard line and BH used four play to score again with 7:15 on the clock. With the PAT the score was 38-46.
Bayln Bargen returned the kick-off 33 yards to set the Raiders. A Kucera to Connor Janda pass covered 11 yards and after being set back 15 yards with a penalty, Kucera connected with Erik Wheeland for a 36 yard TD pass. The PAT attempt failed and with 6:07 on the game clock, the score was 44-46.
L-N stopped BH on their own 20 yard line and took possession with 3:17 on the clock. A nerve rattling, Raider TD drive followed. Kucera completed 6 of 8 passes in a 56 yard drive, four to them to Wheeland who had to fight off BH defenders on more than one catch. The TD came on a four yard dive by Kucera who hit a BH defender at the goal line but was able to drive him backward to score. Kucera also ran the PAT. TD came with 0:44 on the clock. Score: 52-46.
BH used only three plays to move the ball 58 yard scoring on a 37 yard QB keeper run. The TD and PAT came with 0:12 on the clock. Score 52-54.
L-N ran two pass plays before a last ditch effort saw an end zone pass fell incomplete. Ending score: 52-54.
First Downs: L-N 18, BH 11.
Offense: Run: plays/yds.: L-N 35/ 205; BH 36/186.
Offense: Pass: comp./attempts: L-N 22/31; B/H 10/17.
Offense: Passing yds.: L-N 243; BH 279. Offense: Total: L-N 448; BH 465.
Passing: Had intercepted: L-N 0; BH 0.
Fumbles/lost: L-N 1/1; BH 0/0.
Penalties/yds.: L-N 5/45; BH 11/75.
Passing: Kucera: 22/31 for 243 yards.
Rushing: Kucera 26 attempts for 181 yards, Toby Kotinek 5 attempts for 21 yards. Receiving: Bayln 3 for 7 yards; Connor 2 for 13 yards; Erik 10 for 129 yards; Tyson Kotinek 7 for 94 yards.
Defense: Tackles: (Assisted-Unassisted) Wyatt Brockman 6-2; Clay Williams 3-2; Krayton Kucera 11-7; Bayln Bargen 2-1; Nolan Ostdiek 4, 3; Erik Wheeland 4-2; Tyson Kotinek 1-4; Toby Kotinek 1-0; Keaton Mazour 6-1; Wyatt Hajny 3-2.
The Raiders had several boys return to action this week, recovering from injuries. However, they lost the services of Toby Kotinek for most of the Blue Hill game with future action by him unknown at this time.
This week the boys travel to Kenesaw for the 7:00 p.m. game.
Reader Comments(0)