Saturday, August 27, 2011

Football team wins opener

Led by a big-play defense and several individual gems, the Raider football team overcame key injuries and untimely penalties for a 29-26 season-opening win vs. the Fond du Lac Thunder in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference Kick-Off Classic at St. Cloud tonight. In the first half, the Raiders lost two of their three quarterbacks to injuries. Skyler Shearer went down with an apparent torn ACL and Andrew Johnson left with a shoulder injury, leaving freshman Carson Wessinger with the QB load. He responded with a big play late in the game as he threw a TD pass. Other scores included Averey Duncan's 75-yard kick-off return, Logan Baker's one-yard plunge, and Johnson's 10-yard scramble out of the pocket on the play that ended with his injury. Aaron White ran for a late, two-point conversion. He carried the ball 34 times for 123 yards. Greg Wright provided PAT kicks. Jordan Bialke led the defense with nine tackles. Jared Hoemberg and Matt Mogere each had an interception for the Raiders. The CLC home opener is Saturday, Sept. 3 vs. Northland at 1:30 p.m.