The Raiders delivered a statement 34-17 win over NSU University during their homecoming game last Friday, Oct. 25, at Sean Taylor ‘01 Memorial Field. This victory marked the team’s fourth consecutive win of the season, setting the stage for a run at the district championship.
The homecoming crowd enjoyed an exciting performance as students and alumni gathered to cheer on the Raiders. An alumni tent behind the end zone brought past graduates together with food and activities, while students packed the bleachers, proudly showing off their school spirit.
“It felt nice to show school spirit,” junior Daniel Porras said. “This year the school spirit has been different, especially throughout the week. It was nice to see the team win in front of all the students and alumni.”
Throughout the game, the Raiders’ defense played with grit and intensity, setting the tone and creating momentum-shifting plays. Defensive Coordinator Robert Green praised the team’s presence on the field.
“I felt like our defense played great ball. We had four turnovers and played physically throughout the game,” Green said. “Having some players come back from injury benefited our defense. The fact that everyone in our defense wanted to make plays is what’s good. It’s not just one person out there; it’s 11 guys on the field who want to make a play. Sticking to their assignments and utilizing their techniques makes our defense, and it showed in the homecoming game.”
(Chase Samole)
For some players, it was a bittersweet moment playing in their last homecoming game. As senior linebacker RJ Boyton reflects on the season, he emphasizes that unity has helped the team overcome challenges on the field.
“I feel like this past game was a big team win,” Boyton said. “We faced a lot of adversity, and as a team, we can’t underestimate our opponents. That being said, being a senior and playing in my last homecoming game definitely felt pretty good because I was part of the senior group that won.”
The offense delivered a powerful performance, racking up over 30 points with standout junior wide receiver Luc Carroll leading the way. Carroll totaled four touchdowns—two receiving, one rushing, and even threw for one. He shared the excitement of the win and what it meant for him and his teammates.
“It was just a cool experience for me because I got to celebrate with my team after the game,” Carroll said. “I wasn’t really thinking about myself; I was thinking about how I could help the team out so we could win on homecoming for the school.”
As the Raiders gear up to face St. Brendan this Friday, they carry the confidence and momentum from the homecoming game. Maintaining this momentum is crucial not only for their district standings but also for their playoff aspirations.
“I feel that this next game is really important for our record because in order to keep that playoff spot and be district champions we need to be at least .500,” senior defensive end Julian Terry said. “So pretty much, we can’t lose this next game.”
The Raiders face St. Brendan away at 7 p.m. on Nov. 1, Friday.
