Wyatt Frey (9), Lawrence-Nelson, breaks Wilcox-Hildreth tackles for positive yardage.
Raiders Wyatt Frey (9), Grayhm Beck (23), and Brandt McLaughlin (42) take down the Wilcox-Hildreth ball carrier, during Friday's game.
Raider, Caden Culbertson celebrates after a touchdown catch.
Wyatt Frey (9), Lawrence-Nelson, scans for a receiver against Wilcox-Hildreth, Friday.
Jace Hoelting (15), Lawrence-Nelson, intercepts a Wilcox-Hildreth pass during Friday's game.
It has taken three games this year, but the L-N Raiders finally got to entertain an opposing school in this 2024 season. The anticipation was complicated, as the opposition was Wilcox-Hildreth (W-H), the second team on this year's schedule that played well in the state 2023 Football Playoffs.
W-H was an unknown quantity since they played six-man football last year and was a quality team. They came into this game with a record of 1-1, losing their first game by one point. L-N also entered the game with a 1-1 record and this game started with that uncertainty that makes fans tingle with excitement. However, that feeling lasted only for one quarter of play. "Big Plays" are what many remember, but many smaller things led to this victory.
Score by quarter:
L-N 8 22 0 8 - 38
W-H 6 0 0 6 - 12
Quarter No. 1: L-N kicked to start the game and W-H took less than two minutes to produce 70 yds. of offense to score six points on a 46 yd. pass play. The Raiders responded with a 61 yd., 10 play drive to score. All 61 yds. came on the ground with Wyatt Frey and Jack Williams doing the running. Frey ran the 4 yd. TD run and the PAT. Score: 8-6.
Quarter No. 2: Another 10 play drive, covering the end of the first period and start of the second, produced the Raider's second TD. Frey scored on a five yd. run. The PAT failed. The big play in the drive was a Frey pass to Cody Brockman for 26 yds. which certainly helped the Raiders recover from a penalty.
The Raider defense held W-H to a minus six yds. on their next possession and took just four plays to score when Jack Williams took the hand off, headed up the center of the field, cut right and raced 29 yds. to score. Frey ran the PAT.
With five minutes left in the period, the teams traded punts to set up an exciting 25 seconds of play. W-H had the ball on the Raider 30 yd. line, thanks to a good punt return run by W-H. Four pass plays by W-H (3 into the end zone) failed and that took up 24 seconds of play giving the Raiders the ball on their own 35 yd. line with just one little second on the clock. Some teams might just take a knee to get off the field into the halftime, but what the heck . . . On the last play, Caden Culbertson took off down the west side of the field heading north. Quarterback, Wyatt Frey, meanwhile moved around until Caden was close to the end zone and let the ball fly . . . right into Caden's arms at the end zone for six more points. (A one play, one second, 45 yd. scoring drive) Frey ran the PAT. Half time score 30-6.
Quarter No. 3: The third period was scoreless with one highlight being the Raider defense. W-H controlled the ball for over five minutes on one possession, but failed to score. Another highlight was a Williams pass reception where he almost was knocked down, but used his free arm to stay up. Third quarter score: 30-6.
Quarter No. 4: Wyatt Frey scored on the second play of the fourth period on a one yd. run. The TD ended a 47 yd. drive that included the Williams pass reception noted above. Williams ran the PAT. W-H did score in the final period making the ending score 38-12.
Game statistics:
Total offense: L-N 321; W-H 172.
L-N Rushing: Wyatt Frey 109 yds. on 18 carries, Jack Williams 99 yds. on 16 carries, Ace Wulf 5 yds. on two carries.
L-N Passing: Frey 5 of 10 for 108 yds.
L-N Receiving: Cody Brockman 2 for 38 yds., Jace Hoelting 1 for 8 yds., Caden Culbertson 1 for 45 yds, Jack Williams 1 for 17 yds.
L-N Defense: (Tackles: assisted – unassisted); Caden Culbertson 3-0, Wyatt Frey 5-5 and tipped 2 passes, Ace Wulf 1-0, Cody Brockman 1-1, Jace Hoelting 0-7 and 1 tipped pass, Jack Williams 6-1, Grayhm Beck 2-3 and 2 for losses and forced one fumble, Nathan Stokes 0-1 and 1 for loss, Brandt McLaughlin 2-2 and 1 for loss, Caleb Griffis 1-1, Cooper Heikkinen 4-1.
Aiden Zikmund missed the game due to an injury. Coaches are hoping for a quick recovery.
This week's game is against BDS, and will be played at Shickley. The game will be played at 3 in the afternoon because of a shortage of officials with one set of officials agreeing to do the afternoon game.
The last game with BDS was in the 2022 Playoffs. BDS has a history of strong teams but the Raiders proved last week they can stand up against any team.
Come and enjoy.
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