Racine Raiders Come From Behind To Defeat The Kane County Eagles 35-28 In NAFL Action

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com – The Racine Raiders worst nightmares couldn't have been as bad as the first 11 minutes of Saturday night's game against the Kane County (Ill) Eagles. After holding the Eagles on their first drive, Raiders' returner Kevin Barrett fumbled the punt deep in Raiders' territory. The Eagles immediately converted when quarterback Sam Clemons found wide receiver Keith Herron open for a 12-yard touchdown pass. Kicker Mike Morrison added the extra point and the Eagles led 7-0 just under three minutes into the game.

The Eagles then scored again with 10:20 to play in the first quarter when Clemons found wide receiver Curtis Gordon for a 19-yard TD pass. Morrison added the extra point and Kane County led 14-0 early, stunning over 2,600 Raider fans.

The Eagles would strike one more time in the first quarter with 4:19 left to play on a six-yard TD run by Dante Washington. Morrison's point after was good and the Raiders trailed 21- 0.

The Raiders offense woke up late in the first quarter, however. Quarterback Dan Novotny found wide receiver DeAndre Hatch for a 29-yard touchdown pass. Joel Dapra's kick was good and the Raiders trailed 21-7 with 1:23 to play in the first quarter.

The Raiders would get the ball back one more time in the quarter and quickly got the ball in the end zone on an 81-yard pass from Novotny to wide receiver Dorian Palmer. Dapra's extra point was good and the Raiders only trailed by seven at the end of the first quarter.

After a highly eventful first quarter, neither team could muster anything in the second quarter and Kane County took a 21-14 lead into the half.

Eagles' returner Charles Owens took the second half kickoff across midfield but was caught from behind by Raiders' defender Brett Barnes who knocked the ball out of Owens hands. The ball flew several yards forward and was heading towards the side! line when Dapra made a diving grab, preventing the ball from going out of bounds and giving the Raiders the ball at their own 43-yard line.

The Raiders put together a solid drive, culminating in a seven-yard TD run by Bryan Jennings, Jr. The Dapra extra point tied the game at 21 with 10:03 to play in the third quarter.

The Eagles responded on the very next drive when Clemons once again found Herron, this time wide open down the middle of the field, for a 61-yard TD pass. Morrison's extra point was good and the Eagles led 28-21 with 9:10 to play in the third quarter.

The Raiders would respond once again, however. Jennings found pay dirt on a two-yard run with 5:32 to play in the third quarter. Dapra's point after sailed through the uprights and the game was tied at 28.

The Raiders got the ball back following an Eagle turnover but Dapra's 33-yard field goal attempt was blocked by linebacker Lenny Radtke with 3:09 left in the third quarter.

The Eagles lined themselves up for a field goal with under twelve minutes to play in the game to take the lead. Morrison's 30-yard attempt was blocked by defensive tackle Wilbert Kennedy, keeping the score knotted at 28.

The Raiders wasted no time in taking the lead as Novotny found Palmer, who broke several tackles en route to a 45-yard touchdown. Dapra's extra point was good and the Raiders led 35-28 with 9:23 to play in the game.

The Eagles didn't let up. They were able to move the ball down to the Raiders six-yard line in the final minute of the game. With six seconds left in the game, Clemons tried to force a ball into a well-covered receiver in the end zone and it was knocked down, ending the game and giving the Raiders their first win over the Eagles since 2002. It also snapped a 12 game losing streak the Raiders had against the Eagles and clinched the NAFL Northern Conference, Great Lakes Region, Great Lakes Division title.