Football returned for the L-N Raider football team in this COVID year of 2020.

However, Coach Blevins was hampered still by COVID and injuries. He took only freshmen and sophomores plus Jacob Swift and Darren Kathman. The remainder of the team (juniors and seniors) were either injured or still in quarantine.

The return was a trip north to Giltner High School. It was a game where the injury plagued Raider team played the hosts even-up for almost three quarters before not being able to respond well enough for a win.

The young Raiders make an outstanding showing for themselves in spite of the loss.

The quarter scores:

L-N 6 8 6 6 - 26

Giltner 6 14 8 16 - 44

Quarter #1: The score was even as could be and offensive production was pretty close as well. Giltner had first possession but fumbled the ball over to L-N on the second play of the game. L-N used a ten play 43 yard drive to score when Krayton Kucera crossed the goal line on a one yard jaunt. The PAT failed. Giltner responded well and on their second play of this possession they scored on a 37 yard run. Their PAT also failed and the quarter ended with the 6-6 score.

Quarter #2: Both teams had possession twice in this period. However, Giltner managed to score both times and L-N scored only once. The period started with Giltner in possession of the ball and continued on a 52 yard, 12 play TD drive. Giltner scored again with an eight play, 30 yard TD drive and led 20-6 with 3:22 left in the period.

The Raider used all but two seconds of that 3:22 on the clock when they gained possession of the ball. Seven play later Kucera scored on a five yard run around the left end. The PAT pass from Kucera to Tyson Kotinek was good. The big play in the scoring drive was a 38 yard pass from Kucera to Erik Wheeland. The score at half time was 14-20.

Quarter #3: Each team scored once in this period. L-N picked up right where they left off at half time. With first possession of the period, a six play, 54 yard drive resulted in a TD when Kucera and #26, Tyson Kotinek, connected on a 26 yard TD play. The PAT failed and the score was tied at 20-20.

The ball changed hands twice before Giltner managed to break the Raider defense and score with less than a minute left in the period, earning a lead of 28-20 going into the final period.

Quarter #4: Giltner scored twice in this period, both times with short distances to go. L-N helped themselves when a defensive effort shook the ball lose from a Giltner runner with L-N recovering the ball on the Giltner 25 yard line. Three plays: a 20 yard Kucera run, a play netting zero and a six yard Kucera pass to Erik Wheeland scored to make the score 26-36 with 2:53 left in the game. The PAT looked good, but the officials did not agree with this reporter. With L-N kicking off on their own ten yard line due to several infraction, Giltner score with just 34 seconds on the clock.

A loss is a loss, but the young Raider team played with that Raider spirit.

First Downs: L-N 8; Giltner 12.

Penalties: L-N 6 for 60 yards; Giltner 5 for 40 yards.

Fumbles: lost: L-N: 0 – 0: Giltner: 3 – 2.

Team Offense: L-N: Rushing: 176 yards on 42 attempts: Passing: 73 yards on four of 11 passing; Giltner: Rushing: 187 yards on 33 attempts; Passing: 34 yards on 2 completions. Total yardage: L/N 249 yards; Giltner 221 yards.

Raider, Individual: Rushing: Krayton Kucera 179 yards on 39 carries; Passing: Kucera: 4 of 11 for 73 yards; Receiving: Erik Wheeland: 2 for 44 yards; Tyson Kotinek: 2 for 29 yards.

Defense: tackles: (assisted-unassisted) Krayton Kucera 8-5; Erik Wheeland 0-5; Darren Kathman 6-1; Tyson Kotinek 6-3; Keaton Mazour 5-1; Wyatt Hajny 5-1; Emilio Pano 7-0; Clay Williams 4-0; Nolan Ostdiek 1-0; Devyn Zikmund 4-0; Chad Holcomb 0-1.

This week the Raiders travel to Osceola for a 7 p.m. game.