Raiders undefeated in district after 12-3 win

After three weeks on the road, the Riverfield Academy Raiders were at home last Friday night.
They played host to the Central Hinds Cougars. Both teams entered the contest with a 2-0 district record. In another hard fought game, the Raiders came out on top by a score of 12-3, upping their season record to 5-1 and their district standing to 3-0.
The Raiders took the opening kick off and began their first drive of the game on their own 20-yard line. They moved the ball well on the opening drive, gaining three first downs and moving the ball 73 yards.
The drive stalled inside the red zone, however, and the Raiders were forced to turn possession of the ball over to the Cougars on downs.
The Cougars began moving the ball on their first drive of the game. They traveled 40 yards, gaining two first downs when it ended on a fumble that was recovered by Kyle Bolton for the Raiders. The Raiders managed to get one play off after the fumble recovery before the horn sounded and the first quarter ended in a goose egg tie.
The second quarter began with the Raiders having possession close to midfield. On the third play of the drive, Cole Garrett broke loose on a 49-yard touchdown run. The Raiders, who have struggled with consistency on their conversion points this year, missed the PAT but had the lead early in the second quarter, 6-0.
They took that lead into halftime.
The Cougarstook the opening kick off of the second half and began moving the ball toward the Raider goal line with a fourth and three.
The Cougars were charged with a false start penalty, setting them back five yards. So with fourth and eight, they successfully kicked a 32-yard field goal, giving them the only three points they would gain all night.
The Raiders then turned the ball over on a fumble the first play of their their first possession of the second half. The Cougars took possession but lost possession of the ball three plays later as Kincaid Ryan recovered a Cougar fumble deep in Raider territory. The third quarter ended with the Raiders leading 6-3.
The Raiders early fourth quarter drive dominated most of the fourth quarter time clock. The drive was 14 plays long and featured the Raiders converting twice on fourth downs. The first time with fourth and 10, a reverse play was called. Zach Rockett gained 13 yards on the play. Then with the ball on the five-yard line and fourth and three, Garrett Brakefield gained the yardage on a quarterback keeper.
The next play was the completion of the drive as Brakefield took the ball across the goal line in a two-yard touchdown run. A two-point conversion attempt failed but the Raiders had increased their lead to 12-3, a score that held until the final horn sounded.
Game stats included rushing by Cole Garrett, 119 yards; Zach Carnegie, 21 yards; Garrett Brakefield, 11 yards; Zach Rockett, 13 yards; and Nicholas Heath, one yard.
In the passing game, Brakefield was four for 10 on the night, completing twice to Kyle Bolton, once to Travis Rawls and one to Zach Carnegie for a total of 47 yards.
Half time activities included the future of Riverfield cheerleading. Young girls from the pre-K classes all the way up to fifth grade showed off the skills they had learned at Kiddie Cheer Camp sponsored by the varsity cheerleaders and their sponsor last week.
The show ended with all the participants doing the boula boula cheer as the Raider Thunger hammered out the cadence for them. As always, many, many thanks to the the Raider spirit groups and your important contributions to Raider football.
The Raiders will take to the road again this week. They will be traveling to Pearl, Miss., to take on the Park Place Crusaders in another district match up.
Head Coach Boyd Cole had these comments:
“The ballgame Friday night was the best defensive game that Riverfield has played since I have been here. Coach Kyle Stracener has done a tremendous job with the defense. He is assisted by by Lucas Crockett.
“Our offense struggled at times but came through when it had to.
“I told the kids being 3-0 won’t mean a lot unless we beat Park Place. When we win this Friday night, the worst we can do is a tie for the district championship and we will be in the play offs.
“I hope everyone makes it out to Pearl, Miss., to watch the Raiders win. Thank you for your support.”
Hey, Raider fans, tomorrow night, Pearl, Miss., Kick off is at 7 p.m.
See ya there.