The Superior Express -

"Go West Young Man, go west."

At one time that was the cry of America, and for good reason.

Last Friday, the L-N Raider football team and fans also went west. This time it was to play Arapahoe High School for the second game of the young season.

The game was similar to the first game in that the results were not known until the very end of the game.

This week, however, the result was not as favorable as the first week. After winning the first game of the season by one point, 58-57, this game was lost by two points: 28-30. (Missed two PAT attempts.)

Yes, the trip out west was an exciting adventure and Arapahoe did field a good team, but the Raiders built on what they did the first week and more and better things will be coming.

The game summary:

Score by quarter:

L-N 16 0 6 6 = 28

Arapahoe 8 0 8 14 = 30

Quarter no. 1: As seen in the score by quarters above, this game got off to a really good start. Arapahoe had first possession but the Raider defense stopped them and on their punt play, Krayton Kucera caught the punt and quickly raced 33 yards down the field to score. He also ran the PAT and L-N jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead.

Then, three plays into the next Arapahoe possession, the L-N defense forced a fumble recovered by Toby Kotinek and L-N took possession. L-N used eight plays to drive 27 yards to score on a two yard Kucera run. A Kucera to Bayln Bargen pass made the PAT good and the score stood at 16-0.

As good as the Raiders may have been feeling right then, Arapahoe changed that quickly when they returned the kickoff 69 yards and with the PAT made the score 16-8.

Quarter no. 2: The quarter was scoreless, but it wasn't because there was no effort. Arapahoe did score once, but had it called back because of a penalty. L-N put together a 53 yard drive, but it stalled on the Arapahoe 17 yard line. An exciting play in this drive was a 17 yard pass reception by Erik Wheeland who caught the pass after being knocked to the ground.

Quarter no. 3: L-N had first possession and put together a 65 yard, 7 play scoring drive. It was an all-running drive except for the final play in which Kucera and Wheeland again hooked up for a 27 yard TD pass. The PAT failed: 22-8.

Four minutes passed as the ball exchange hands until Arapahoe used a 3-play, 48 yard drive to score: 22-16.

Quarter no. 4: Unable to move the ball because of a number of penalties, L-N gave Arapahoe the ball on their own 22 yard line and in two plays Arapahoe scored tying the score at 22-22 with 10:13 left in the game.

L-N made it rough on themselves, but did put together a seven minute, 13 play, rushing drive to score on a 4 yard Toby Kotinek run. The PAT failed: 28-22.

Arapahoe responded with a ten play, 40 yard scoring drive to tie the score at 28-28. However . . . they added the PAT for a lead: 28-30.

In those last 47 seconds, L-N used six plays, picked up two 1st downs before Arapahoe picked off a pass on the final play of the game. Two nice passes highlighted this segment with Wheeland catching a 35 yard pass and Tyson Kotinek hauling in an 11 yard pass.

First Downs: L-N 13; Arapahoe 9;

Offense: Run: plays-yds.: L-N 37 plays, 158 yards; Arapahoe: 28 plays, 129 yards.

Offense: Pass: comp.-attempts: L-N 11-17; Arapahoe 4-5.

Offense: Passing yds.: L-N 147; Arapahoe 65.

Offense: Total: L-N 305; Arapahoe 194.

Passing: Had intercepted: L-N 1; Arapahoe 0.

Fumbles-lost: L-N 0; Arapahoe 3-1.

Penalties-yds.: L-N 9-67; Arapahoe 6-44.

Passing: Kucera: 11-17 for 147 yards.

Rushing: Kucera 25 carries for 110 yards, Toby Kotinek 12 carries for 48 yards.

Receiving: Bayln Bargen 3 for 15 yards; Erik Wheeland 3 for 88 yards; Tyson Kotinek 3 for 23 yards and Toby Kotinek 2 for 21 yards.

Defense: Tackles: (Assisted-Unassisted) Wyatt Brockman 4-1; Clay Williams 1-0; Krayton Kucera 6-7; Bayln Bargen 2-0; Roy Davidson 1-0; Nolan Ostdiek 4-1; Erik Wheeland 5-3; Tyson Kotinek 4-4; Toby Kotinek 4-2; Keaton Mazour 3-1; Wyatt Hajny 5-1.

This week the Raiders return to Class D-2 play as they will travel to Diller-Odell for the 7 p.m. game played at Diller.