After their first win in the Moose Jaw Football League in Week One of their 2012 campaign, the YRHS Raiders football team notched another milestone in their inaugural season in their new league with their first home win on Tuesday evening. The Raiders won a wild 28-21 contest over the Moose Jaw Peacock Tornados, one of the best teams in recent years in the province and one of the league's best teams. In a back and forth game that saw everything from officiating controversy to special teams errors and comebacks from both teams the Raiders managed to register the final blow and hold on for a 28-21 victory in one of the more entertaining contests in recent Raider history.
The game started out with a 5-0 Peacock lead after two blown long snaps led to a safety and a field goal to open up the games scoring. However Dalton Fichtner and Zack Kais marched the Raiders down the field to regain the lead after a Fichtner scramble led to a Kais punch in from inside the five yard line to make it a 7-5 lead for the Raiders.
After Peacock made a goal line stand near the end of the first half the Raider defense made a clutch fumble recovery to give the Raider offense the ball back with 1:03 left on the clock and a chance to add valuable points to the board after failing to do so on their last drive. On a blown play Fichtner scrambled for thirty plus yards to the endzone to push the Raider lead to 14-5 going into halftime and gave the Raiders some serious momentum. The Raider rushing attack was the story of the first half as Kais, Fichtner and the offensive line chewed up the clock and moved the chains on their way to the Moose Jaw end of the field on numerous occasions which led to their first half lead.
The second half picked up where things left off for the Raiders as Fichtner showed off his arm connecting with Layne Hull for a passing touchdown making the game 21-5 for the Raiders in what was looking like a statement win for the league's new members. However Peacock's talented quarterback exhibited his arm strength and allowed the Tornados to get back in the game with a touchdown and a two point convert to make it 21-13 in the tail end of the third quarter. After a direct snap attempt on third and five failed for the Raiders the Peacock quarterback once again took advantage setting up another touchdown after a big gain in the air on the first play of the drive. With another two point convert in the air the game was tied 21-21 with plenty of time left in the fourth quarter to decide who was about to take the early season spoils. Fichtner and Hull once again answered the bell for the Raiders connecting on a big play pass to put the ball deep in the Peacock red zone before connecting one last time to give the Raiders the lead.
One of Darius Haberstock's four extra points of the game gave the Raiders a 28-21 lead to hold onto. A Raider defense that was strong all day answered the bell on two occasions to close out the game and after a holding call on a punt return pinned Peacock deep in their own territory the writing was on the wall and the hometown newcomers continued their winning ways to open the season.
At 2-0 coach Roby Sharpe was extremely happy with his teams performance and the quality of the game in general. Sharpe mentioned that if there was a game to exhibit the quality of Saskatchewan football this would be it. He even went on to say that many of the players playing in that game will likely go onto the Canadian Junior Football League and University ranks. The offensive exploits of Kais, Hull, and Fichtner were once again a key to the victory as the grade ten running back put in a gutsy effort in the backfield and was rewarded with a touchdown. Darius Haberstock's efforts on defense were also praised by Sharpe, who was pleased with the performance of young players who he thinks are going to be important players in the program in the coming years as well as this season.
Fichtner was also lauded as his leadership and complete package of skills with his arm and his legs were crucial in the win according to Sharpe.
The Raiders now enter a very busy part of their season as they take on Weyburn on the road Saturday followed by a home night game against Moose Jaw Central then a Thursday night game in Swift Current giving the Raiders four games in two weeks. Sharpe mentioned that there will be less time to practice as days will be needed to rest and watch game film but the depth of the Raiders squad has less players going both ways and will help. The Raiders take on former RIFL rivals and former Regina league champs in Weyburn on the road Saturday afternoon in another important league clash as their season continues to heat up.
