Despite loss on the field, football wins in the books
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Last updated 9/6/2017 at 10:26am
Tony Nichols runs beyond the reach of a would-be tackler Friday night. Nichols broke tackles left and right as running back, averaging five yards per carry, with a total of 92 yards. - Jacob Wagner photo
With one win by forfeit and one non-league loss, the Raiders split their season-opening week of football.
On Friday in Coulee Dam, the Lake Roosevelt Raiders football team lost their season opener to the Tri-Cities Prep Jaguars, who filled in for the forfeited Waterville Shockers. A week-one forfeit from Waterville due to an insufficient number of players means the Raider football team's win-loss record is 1-0 in the league.
The Tri-Cities Prep Jaguars played in Waterville's place, defeating the Raiders 18-0 in a game that doesn't count towards their league standings, but makes their overall record 1-1. That could come back to bite the Raiders late in the season when league rankings are determined.
Tri-Cities got on the scoreboard in the first quarter when their quarterback dished the ball to a runner while being tackled. The runner made it into the endzone for the touchdown, and the kicker missed the extra point.
The score at the end of the half was 12-0, and the final score was 18-0, with Tri-Cities scoring three touchdowns total and missing all three points after touchdowns.
Sam Wapato blocks a Jaguar pass during Friday night's game. The Raider defense held the Jaguars in the red zone on several occasions, forcing turnovers on downs. - Jacob Wagner photo
Raider running back Tony Nichols went 92 yards in 18 carries, an average of five yards per carry. Nichols frequently broke tackles and required several Jaguars to pull him down. "He had a heck of a game," said Raider Head Coach Bubba Egbert.
A roughly 50-yard touchdown run by Nichols was called back, due to a blocking penalty.
The penalties "definitely didn't help," Egbert said. "That's on the coaches."
The Raider defense held the Jaguars in or near the red zone on five separate occasions, keeping them from scoring and forcing turnovers on downs. "They did pretty good," Egbert said. "They didn't break, gave up a few yards here and there, but were able to come up with a play when they needed to."
Hunter Whitelaw played quarterback in place of Steven Flowers, who didn't play because of a sore shoulder. Whitelaw threw five completions on 16 pass attempts, for 43 yards and two interceptions.
This Friday, Sept. 8, the Raiders head to Manson to play the Mountain Lions at 7 p.m.
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