It started as just another warm, late summer game of football, involving a trip to Diller, Neb., to play the 0-2 Diller-Odell (D-O) Griffins. It ended up almost like two games. The first half one in which the Raiders played just to survive. The second half, one in which L-N scored with every possession of the ball using a good running game to grind out the 46-26 victory. It gave L-N a 2-1 record in this young season.

After victory margins of one or two points in the first two games, this 20 point margin did not eliminate excitement throughout the game. Consider the score by quarters.

L-N 0 8 22 16 = 46

D-O 0 8 6 12 = 26

Quarter 1: Most fans were not expecting a scoreless first quarter. It wasn't for lack of trying. Both teams had two possessions and each had TD's stopped by lost fumbles. L-N generated almost 100 yards of offense with almost half of that coming from Bayln Bargen by running or pass receptions. D-O had more than 65 yards of offense. However, lost fumbles stopped both teams.

Quarter 2: Offensive yardage decreased and fumbles went away. However, scoring started. D-O had possession to start and they continued a 45 yard drive to score with only three minutes off the clock. 0-8.

The reality that D-O would not just "go-away" set in for the Raiders and they picked up 60 yards in 13 plays to score with a Toby Kotinek four yard run. Krayton Kucera ran the PAT. 8-8. The big play in this drive was a 22 yard Kucera to Tyson Kotinek pass. The score came with 3:35 left in the period. Half time score 8-8.

Quarter 3: This reporter isn't sure what was said at halftime, but this is where a whole new game started. After a total of 16 points scored in half #1, a total of 56 points lit up the scoreboard in the second half.

Each team had three possessions in quarter 3. L-N scored on all three, D-O scored once. D-O kicked off and the Raiders used four plays to move 44 yards to score on a Kucera 9 yard run. Toby Kotinek ran the PAT. D-O returned the kickoff over 40 yards and soon scored. 16-14. This time L-N moved the ball 49 yards in seven plays and Kucera scored again on a 3 yard scamper. A Kucera to Erik Wheeland pass made the PAT good. 24-16.

D-O went four and out and L-N used six plays to move the ball 55 yards to score again. This time it was a five yard Kucera run. The PAT . . . well maybe one of the more interesting times in the game. L-N was called for three penalties on the PAT tries, and finally attempted the PAT from the 28 yard line. The PAT pass to Wheeland was good for 25 yards, but still short of the goal line.

30-14.

Qurarter 4: Both teams had possession twice and both scored twice. L-N scored first on a six play, 53 yard drive with a 36 yard TD run by Krayton Kucera. Toby Kotinek ran the PAT. 38-14.

The final TD drive for L-N was a 46 yard drive with Kucera and Toby Kotinek taking turns running the ball. Kucera scored on a two yard run. The PAT pass was to Tyson Kotinek was good to end the Raider scoring. 46-26.

D-O scored twice in the final period. Once on a 45 yard run and once on a one yard plunge against the Raider's younger players.

The game was the second of the year with two players rushing over one hundred yards with the Raiders gaining more than a hundred yards over the opponent.

Raiders Connor Janda set out his second game of the season due to an injury from the first game of the season. Bayln Bargen missed the second half of play due to sickness.

First Downs: L-N: 19, D-O: 14.

Offense: Run: plays/yds .: L-N 51/341 yards; D-O: 33/213.

Offense: Pass: comp./attempts: L-N: 9/13; D-O: 6/20

Offense: Passing yds .: L-N: 121; D-O 72.

Offense: Total: L-N: 462; D-O: 285.

Passing: Had intercepted: L-N: 0; D-O: 0.

Fumbles/lost: L-N: 1/1; D-O: 1/1.

Penalties/yds .: L-N: 10/90; D-O: 6/40.

Passing: Kucera: 9 of 13.

Rushing: Kucera: 186 yards on 27 carries; Toby Kotinek: 129 yards on 20 carries; Baylin Barger: 17 yards on one carry; Carter Griffis 11 yards on two carries. Receiving: Bayln Bargen; 4 for 38 yards; Erik Wheeland; 3 for 58 yards; Tyson Kotinek 2 for 25 yards.

Defense: Tackles: (Assisted-Unassisted) Wyatt Brockman: 5-2; Emelio Pano 6-1; Clay Williams; 3-0; Krayton Kucera: 11-6; Nolan Ostdiek: 6-3; Erik Wheeland: 4-0; Tyson Kotinek: 6-2; Devyn Zikmund 1-1 Toby Kotinek: 6-3; Keaton Mazour: 4-0; Carter Griffis: 1-1; Cody Brockman 0-2. Tackles for loss: Wyatt Brockman, Emelio Pano and Krayton Kucera: one each. Fumble recovery: Erik Wheeland.

Krayton Kucera keeps a tight hold on the football and keeps an eye on the D-O defenders as he adds yardage to the Raider offensive effort last Friday evening at Diller. The Raider offense total was 462 yards for the game.

This week's game is Homecoming in Lawrence against Blue Hill who is sporting a record of two wins and two losses to date.