On Friday, September 26th, the Raiders took on the Killian Cougars at Sean Taylor ‘01 Memorial Field in their first District matchup of the season. The Raiders stood at 2-2 before the game, looking to bounce back from a tough loss to Key West. The team also aims to continue its six-year winning streak against the Cougars.
“Going into the game, we knew it would be a dog fight. We hadn’t lost to Killian in 6 years, so that gave us an extra reason to defend that streak,” Sophomore defensive end Yiannis Kavalekas said.
The start of the game was not smooth, with the Raider defense struggling against both the run and the pass game. By the second quarter, the team saw itself trailing 20-0. Although it took a while for the offense to get into a groove, junior quarterback Brendan Beery proved he is a dual threat at the helm, c
onnecting with senior wide receiver Luc Caroll in the endzone and scoring a touchdown in himself. By the end of the half, the Raiders had cut the deficit in half, trailing 27-14.
“When halftime hit, we knew we had to lock in and come back to win no matter what. We had to erase our mistakes from the first half and give it our all,” junior running back Darriel Cannon said.
To start the third quarter, Cannon led the offense downfield with multiple receptions and a rushing touchdown. Directly after the failed extra point, lightning was detected nearby, and the game was ultimately postponed until the next day.
With a night’s rest and newfound momentum, the Raiders kicked off the second day firing on all cylinders, with a sack from sophomore defensive end Jaylen Wilson and tackles for loss from senior Safety Leondrez Leonard. On the offensive side, a quick 37-yard touchdown reception from senior athlete Champ Smith and a successful two-point conversion put the Raiders up by one.
On the defensive end, Smith also played a huge role, recording two interceptions in the second half, including the game sealer, giving him five on the season. Earlier in the game, senior Luc Caroll came up big with a red zone interception with the game tied. With junior Cornerback DJ Leonard injured, Carroll was forced to play both sides of the ball.
“You never know when your number is called and when you’re expected to perform, so
the expectations are to be at your highest at all times. Look to elevate your game and to contribute wherever possible at all times,” Head Coach Earl Sims said.
A couple of offensive possessions later, Caroll continued his dominance, scoring his second touchdown of the day on the ground, giving the Raiders a 34-27 lead. The defense shut the Cougar offense down for the rest of the game and completed a 20-point comeback. This win not only puts the Raiders’ record above .500, but also gives them their first district win of the season.
While the team doesn’t play for another two weeks, they prepare for another district matchup, facing the Somerset Academy Stallions, currently standing at a 5-1 record.
“It doesn’t matter what we go through; we just have to go through it together. There’s nothing we are not capable of if we believe. We gotta continue, trust the process and continue to work and get better,” Sims said in the postgame huddle.
