The Superior Express -

Thirty-two Class D-2 Eight Man Football teams began their journey in the State Playoff system last Thursday. Among those 32 teams there were four games where the lower seeded team won.

Unfortunately, for Lawrence- Nelson players and fans, the Raiders were not among those four. Their matchup with the number one rated team in Class D-2 (Sandhill-Thedford) ended the football season for the L-N Raiders as they suffered a loss to the tune of 20-60.

With the game played in Dunning, Nebraska, the S-T team took little time to prove they are the top seeded team for a reason. The score by quarters:

L-N 0 6 6 8 = 20

S-T 37 9 7 7 = 60

S-T used speed to gain an advantage along the side lines, being able to get around the Raider’s defensive ends for long scoring runs. Three of the first four S-T scores came on runs of 50 yards or more and S-T stacked them up early and often.

The Raider running game showed little promise for most of the first period and half of the second period. The Raiders went primarily to the passing game near the end of the second period and found success. Kucera completed six of ten passes almost the entire length of the field to score. Kucera scored on a three yard sprint with 48 seconds left before half time. The PAT failed.

Raider passing again filled the air in the third period. However, the first promising drive was stopped by a S-T interception which was run back 40 yards for a S-T TD. However, the Raiders could not be questioned about their grit as they came right back with a 64 yard TD drive where a Kucera to Connor Janda pass scored a couple of minutes before the period ended. The PAT failed again. (A big play was the 53 yard pass play from Kucera to Tyson Kotinek.)

In the final period, S-T scored early in the period and L-N scored late. Toby Kotinek scored the final TD for the year on a two yard run. Wyatt Brockman ran the PAT for the Senior to have the recognition of scoring his first PAT of the year and the last points for the team for the year.

The Raiders got beat, but they did score more points against the No.1 team than any other S-T opponent this season.

The playoffs continue this Friday with five of the 16 D-2 teams (and one D-1 team) still playing who are former Raider opponents this year.

Neighboring team still in the playoffs are: BDS, Kenesaw and Blue Hill.

L-N ends the season with a 3-6 record. A record that included a pair of two-point losses. The team will lose two Seniors this season. They being Wyatt Brockman and Jacob Swift.

Offense: Run: plays/yds.: L-N 26-90; S-T 31-291.

Offense: Pass: comp./attempts: L-N 15-28; S-T 1-1.

Offense: Passing yds.: L-N 171; S-T 47.

Offense: Total: L-N 261; S-T 338.

Passing: Kucera:15-28 for 171 yards.

Rushing: Kucera 21 yards on 11 carries, Toby Kotinek 38 yards on 8 carries, Bayln Bargen 2 yards, 1 carry, Tyson Kotinek 5 yards, 1 carry, Devyn Zikmund 7 yards, 2 carries, Connor Janda 14 yards 2 carries, Wyatt Brockman 3 yards 1 carry.

Receiving; Erik Wheeland 3 for 49 yards, Tyson Kotinek 5 for 83 yards, Connor Janda 5 for 34 yards, Keaton Mazour 1 for 8 yards.

Defense: Tackles: (Assisted-Unassisted) Wyatt Brockman 2-2; Clay Williams 1-2; Krayton Kucera 3-3; Conner Janda 3-0; Nolan Ostdiek 1-3; Erik Wheeland 0-1; Tyson Kotinek 0-3; Toby Kotinek 3-2; Devyn Zikmund 0-3; Rocky Miller 0-1 Keaton Mazour 3-1; Riley Cannaday 1-0; Carter Griffis 1-0; Aidan Zikmund 2-0.