CWS Sports Desk
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August 19, 2011
Rapids drops their 2011 opener to Hudson.
Hudson–It was suppose to be the Lincoln Red Raiders’ defense flexing their muscles in Hudson. Instead, it was the Hudson Raider defense that forced 9 turnovers (including turnovers on downs) and came up big in a 19-0 shutout victory over Rapids.
The very first play from scrimmage, Hudson forced a Rapidsturnover, and on the very next play Hudson QB Luke Miller connected on a 32 yard bomb to give Hudson a 7-0 lead less than one minute into the game.
“Give Miller credit, that kid made plays,” said head coach Tony Biolo.
An inexperienced Red Raider offense had a rough first half constantly going 3 and out, turning the ball over, and turning the ball over on downs. But the Red Raider defense time and time again kept Hudson off the board with huge turnovers of their own, including a Regis Henke interception in the end zone.
Two big plays in the second half did the Red Raiders in. The first one occurred when Hudson Raider Tyler Smrcina took the second half kickoff 90 yards for his second touchdown of the game. But a botched snap kept the the extra point of the board and Hudson took a 13-0 lead. Hudson’s two scoring drives to this point took only 35 seconds off the clock.
Rapids offense did start to move the ball more effectively in the second half, helping keep the Red Raider defense off the field. Justin Reinke had a nice 30 yard run and Cort Halbur threw a beautiful spiral to Alex Marriott for a 40 yard gain, but turnovers would once again doom the Red Raiders on this night. After the big pass play Rapids faced a 3rd and goal from the 5, but the Hudson defense made a huge play by forcing a fumble, and returning it 73 yards to the raider 22 yard line. Hudson would move the ball to the 10, and from there Luke Miller connected with Alex Knowles to put Hudson up 19-0(ex point missed) to put the finishing touch on the score.
There were a lot of bright spots for the Red Raiders tonight. The defense played exceptionally well. The change to the 3-4 defense really worked well, especially with Brady Goska calling the plays on defense.
“Moving from offense to defense was not a big adjustment,” said Brady Goska.
The offense showed its youth tonight, and this was their first game, and the more the game went on, the better Cort Halbur and the offense played.
“We have a lot of youth on offense. But we did gain a lot of experience tonight, and we will get things squared away,” said head coach Tony Biolo.
Next Friday night Rapids will host Wausau East which runs the same offense(triple option), and defense(3-4) as Hudson. Game time 7pm.
Raider Notes: Brady Goska had one heck of a game setting up Henke’s interception by tipping the ball, and booming a 54 yard punt in the third quarter… Vince Beigel looked every bit the part as one of the best linebackers in the state… The Red Raider special teams barely missed blocking two punts, actually tipping one attempt.
