The 2022 Class D-2 state playoff games started last Thursday evening. The No. 7 seeded L-N Raiders played No.10 seeded Nebraska City Lourdes Central Catholic on the local field in Lawrence. They emerged from the game with a 62-16 victory.

For Class D-2, 32 teams were divided into East and West divisions to help reduce travel distances. The remaining 16 team will be paired off into a state wide 16 team bracket with the highest point total team paired off with the lowest, etc.

The Raider's 8 to 1 record gives them a 13 seed position in the second round playoff games and they will play No. 4 seed BDS. The game will be played at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21 at Bruning.

However, back to the dominate victory over Lourdes CC.

How does that old saying go? The best offense is a great defense.

In general terms the Raider defense did an outstanding job.

Throughout the season the defense has been steady, but in this game it seemed to stand out just a little more. For example, Lourdes CC had a total of only four first downs while the Raiders racked up 17.

The Lourdes CC running game ran 19 plays and 13 of those plays ended up with negative yards. They had a total of -59 yards rushing. They did have 190 yards passing for a total of 131 yards of offense for the game.

For this game Nolan Ostdiek led the team on the stats sheet. Nolan had seven assisted tackles, three unassisted, one for a loss and one fumble recovery. Connor Janda had three assists, three sacks and two unassisted. Tyson Kotinek had four assisted, four unassisted and one sack. Adding to the defensive dominance were: Devyn Zikmund, Keaton Mazour, Toby Kotinek, Rocky Miller and Krayton Kucera.

Or . . . does that old saying go like this? The best defense is a great offense.

Well consider the stats:

Scoring: Increased the average per game scoring to well over 50 points a game.

Rushing Offense: The Raiders racked up 371 yards on the ground. Once again two Raiders exceeded 100 yards rushing in a game. Krayton Kucera gained 158 yards and Toby Kotinek had 153 yards of those 371 yards.

Passing Offense: Krayton Kucera completed 11 of 13 passes for 149 yards and Conner Janda was one for one. On the receiving end of those passes were: Bayln Bargen 51 yds .; Tyson Kotinek 40 yds .; Devyn Zikmund 34 yds .; Erik Wheeland 18 yds .; and Toby Kotinek 10 yards.

The progress of the game was uncertain in the first quarter. The score by quarter was:

L-N 24 30 8 0 - 62

LCC 16 0 0 0 - 16

Beginning the game, L-N scored on the second play of each of their first two possession. The game looked easy. However, LCC gave notice they didn't just come for the fun of it. On LCC's next two possessions they scored. One on a 53 yard pass play and the next on a 75 yard pass play, and with 2:44 left in the first period, the score was tied at 16-16. L-N scored with just six seconds left in the first period and the route was on from there. The scoring went as follows:

TD No. 1: With less than a minute gone in the game Toby Kotinek used a 'stiff-arm' move on his way to a 58 yard sweep around the right end to score. Kucera ran the PAT. 8-0

TD No. 2: LCC fumbled a punt attempt and L-N had the ball on the LCC 16 yard line. On the second play Toby raced ten yards to score. Kucera ran the PAT again. 16-0.

TD No. 3: After LCC's two scores, L-N got the ball back with 2:44 in the first period. Using six plays to move the ball 50 yards Krayton Kucera scored with six seconds left in the period. Kucera also ran the PAT. 24-16.

TD No. 4: Following a LCC punt, L-N moved the ball 43 yards and Kucera scored on a six yard run and also added the PAT. 32-16.

TD No. 5: Following another LCC punt, The Raiders used a 64 yard drive to score when Kucera raced 41 yards to score. He added the PAT as well. 40-16.

TD No. 6: LCC fumbled on their next possession and Clay Williams recovered the loose ball. From the LCC 29 yard line, Kucera and Bayln Bargen connected on a 29 yard pass play. Toby Kotinek ran the PAT. 48-16.

TD No. 7: LCC punted with 1:25 on the clock before half time. The Raiders connected on 5 of 6 pass plays to cover 61 yards and Kucera scored on a 14 yard run with 0:22 on the clock before half time. The PAT failed: 54-16.

TD No. 8: With a continuous clock, L/N started on their own 18 yard line on their first possess of the second half. They used 7 running plays and one pass play to cover 52 yards and Toby Kotinek scored on a 10 yard run. Conner Janda ran the PAT. 62-16.

That ended the scoring for the game as the final period was scoreless.

"Raider Football: is a term used to describe good football. That is what you saw in this game. I don't have attendance stats for this game, but there were a lot of people watching.

Total defensive stats: Clay Williams: 1 assist and 1 unassist; Krayton Kucera: 1 assist, 3 unassist; Roy Davidson: 2 unassist; Connor Janda: 3 assist, 2 unassist, 3 sacks; Nolan Ostdiek: 7 assist, 3 unassist, 1 for loss; Erik Wheeland 2 assist, 1 unassist; Tyson Kotinek: 4 assist, 4 unassist, 1 sack and 1 pass tip; Devyn Zikmund: 2 assist; Toby Kotinek: 2 assist, 3 unassist, 1 sack; Rocky Miller 2 assist, 1 unassist; Keaton Mazour: 3 assist, 2 unassist; Wyatt Hajny: 1 assist, 1 unassist, 1 sack.

Denise Mazour

Tyson Kotinek breaks away to carry the ball down the field.

To see another good ball game, travel to Bruning Friday to see the Raiders take on yearly power BDS. A good game should be had.