Raiders go on scoring spree, crush Nebraska Lutheran 80-26

80 points in a football game?

Yup, that's correct. It is pretty rare, but it does happen . . . and not by design.

This reporter took a quick look back at the Raider scoring for the past 10 years and found only one game where the point total was 80 points or more. That was in 2018 when 96 points were scored. In those 10 years, there were four times when the Raiders scored in the 70 point range.

No, I don't think scoring 80 points was a target for the Raiders, they just happened. Coach Blevins started substituting non-starters early in the second period and the starters got little playing time in the last half of the game.

Fans and players alike almost need a computer to keep track of both the scoring and possessions. In the first half alone the ball changed possession almost 20 times (30 times for the game). There have been games where possessions did not change 20 times for the entire game. The scoring by quarter:

L-N 22 42 8 8 - 80

N-L 0 6 14 6 - 26

Scoring is what usually get most of the attention in most sporting events, but in football, the defense is beginning to get more attention. (If you don't believe that, just watch the Nebraska – Rutgers football game from last weekend.)

We'll cover the offensive scoring shortly, but the defense had a good night. Wyatt Frey had four pass interceptions and Aiden Zikmund had one. Tackles for losses came from Aiden Zikmund, Ace Wulf, Jack Williams, Grayhm Beck, Brandt McLaughlin (2), and Cooper Heikkinen. In fact, Unassisted (Solo) tackles out- numbered assisted tackles 28-20.

N-L ended the game with a plus 2 yards gained on offense, losing ground on 8 of 12 plays. They did have 277 yards passing, completing 19 of 49 attempts with five interceptions.

The scoring record follows and is extensive:

Quarter No. 1: TD No. 1: L-N kicked to start the game and N-L took almost four minutes off the clock and got to the Raider 9 yard line before Zikmund recorded the first pass interception to stop the drive on the Raider 9 yard line. It took five plays until Jack Williams ran the ball straight ahead, cut to his right and raced defenders 44 yards to the end zone. Frey ran the point after touchdown 8-0.

TD No. 2: Following 3 intercepted passes on 3 consecutive plays, Wyatt Frey snagged a N-L pass and raced 55 yards to score. Point after touchdown failed. 14-0.

TD No. 3: With about two minutes the first period, the Raiders forced a fumble and Grayhm Beck recovered the pig skin for L-N. Four plays later, Williams ran the final 8 yards for six points. Frey ran the point after touchdown, 22-0.

Quarter No. 2: TD No. 4: N-L used almost five minutes and put together a 65 yard scoring drive to set up one of the most exciting plays. Cody Brockman received the kickoff and found 68 yards of running room to score on the kickoff return. The point after touchdown failed, 28-6.

TD No. 5: N-L ran two plays and fumbled the ball to the Raiders. It took just one play for a Frey to Colton Menke 9 yard pass to score this TD. Frey ran the point after touchdown, 36-6.

TD No. 6: N-L second play on this possession was cut short by a Wyatt Frey pass interception that he returned about 50 yards to score. Aiden Zikmund earned the two points after touchdown, 44-0.

TD No. 7: Following the N-L punt, Williams ran the ball for 22 yards followed by a nine yard jaunt to the end zone. Aiden Zikmund ran the point after touchdown, 52-6.

TD No. 8: Following the kick off, N-L ran two plays, the second being a pass that Aiden Zikmund intercepted. It took two plays, with Zikmund running both, scoring on a six yard run. point after touchdown failed, 58-6.

TD No. 9: N-L took two minutes off the clock but soon punted. The Raiders had Ace Wulf, Grayhm Beck and Brandt McLaughlin take turns running the ball resulting in a 49 yard scoring drive when Beck scored the TD on a six yard run. Point after touchdown failed, 64-6.

Quarter No. 3: TD No. 10: N-L scored twice early in this period. The first after a Raider fumble, the second with a 41 yard TD run. After the second TD, the Raider's Grayhm Beck scored on a 48 yard run. Colton Menke scored the point after touchdown, 72-20.

Quarter No. 4: TD No. 10: N-L connected on 4 of 6 pass attempts and scored first in this period. After that, the Raiders took six plays to score and came with Carter Griffis scoring on a three yard drive. Jasper Elledge ran the point after touchdown, 80-26.

The final three minutes went scoreless cementing the final score at 80-26.

Game statistics: Offense: L-N 344 yards; N-L 279 yards; First downs: L-N 7, N-L 10.

L-N Rushing: Wyatt Frey 22 yards on 6 carries; Jack Williams 96 yards on six carries; Aiden Zikmund 23 yards on 4 carries; Ace Wulf 79 yards on seven carries; Grayhm Beck 80 yards on six carries; Brandt McLaughlin 1 yard on one carry; Jasper Elledge 6 yards on seven carries; Colton Menke 4 yards on one carry; Brody Buescher minus six yards on one carry; Carter Griffis 3 yards on one carry. (L-N saw 10 players carry the ball.)

L-N Passing: Wyatt Frey 2 of 3 for 31 yards; Carter Griffis 1 of 1 for 5 yards.

L-N Receiving: Colon Menke 2 for 31 yards; Gus Harrison 1 for 5 yards.

Defense: (assisted – unassisted tackles) Aiden Zikmund 3-9 plus 1 for a loss and one interception; Wyatt Frey 2-2 plus 4 interceptions; Ace Wulf 1-1 plus 1 for a loss; Cody Brockman 2-4; Jace Hoelting 0-2; Colton Menke 2-2; Jack Williams 2-0 plus 1 for a loss; Grayhm Beck 3-0 plus 1 for loss; Brandt McLaughlin 1-2 plus 2 for losses; Caleb Griffis 1-2; Cooper Heikkinen 2-2 plus 1 for a loss; Jasper Elledge 1-1; Gus Harrison 0-1.

Caden Culbertson remained on the sideline recovering from an injury. However, Carter Griffis was able to suit up again and see limited play after not playing because of a concussion.

The Raiders go into the final two weeks of the regular schedule with a 4 to 2 won-loss record. This week's game is with High Plains High School, being played at Clarks, Nebraska. High Plains also sports a 4 to 2 record and the game promises to be interesting.