Riverfield finishes season with final playoff game

After a one-hour delay due to lighting strikes in the atmosphere last Friday night’s matchup between the Riverfield Academy Raiders and the Columbia Academy Cougars got underway at 8 pm. instead of 7 p.m.
It was a hard-fought contest in which the Raiders did not come out on the top side, losing round two of the MAIS-3A playoffs by a score of 38-26.
Columbia had a strong offense and got out in front of the Raiders early in the game. The first quarter ended with the Cougars in the lead 14-6. The Raiders outscored the Cougars in the second quarter 12-8 and went into half time trailing by only four points, 22-18.
The Raiders took the opening kickoff of the second half. Cole Garrett returned the ball 20 yards before being brought down. A personal foul penalty against the Cougars added 15 yards to Garrett’s return. The Raiders then took the ball 42 yards on 11 plays to score as Garrett Brakefield connected with John Michael Whatley on a six-yard passing play to end the drive. Brakefield then connected with Zach Rockett for a two-point PAT. The drive took a little over four minutes off the clock and gave the Raiders their only lead of the game at 26-22. With just four seconds left in the third quarter, the Cougars regained the lead as they scored on a nine-yard run followed by a two point PAT. The third quarter ended with the Cougars once again in the lead 30-26.
The Cougars went on to score eight more points in the fourth quarter while the Raiders were held scoreless bringing the final score to a 38-26 in favor of the Cougars.
Total Raider offense for the night was 344 yards. Of that 183 yards was rushing and 161 yards was passing. For the second week in a row the Raiders passed the ball more than they did in the earlier games of the season. Garrett Brakefield was 15 for 28. Senior receiver Zach Rockett had eight catches for 98 yards, one touchdown and one PAT. Senior receiver John Michael Whatley had four catches for 39 yards and senior receiver Travis Rawls had one catch for 16 yards. Senior Zach Carnegie had one catch for 19 yards and one touchdown. While senior Cole Garrett had two catches for nine yards.
In the rushing game, Cole Garrett led the way with 91 yards and one touchdown. Zach Carnegie had 38 yards, Garrett Brakefield had 48 yards while Zach Rockett added six.
The game represented the very last playing experience for 11 seniors on the team. Although everyone on the team and associated with the team would have liked to have continued on for two more weeks, this team can be proud of what they accomplished and how they played this season. Not give much hopes by some in the early weeks of the season, they proved they would work hard and be winners.
As a final note, many, many people make Raider football the great sport it is. So thanks to the cheerleaders, Glory Girls and Raiders Thunder for your contributions. Also many behind the scenes who work diligently to make things go smoothly. Thanks to the couches and to all the fans. Great season 2017 Raiders.
Head Coach Boyd Cole had these final comments:
“I have never been more proud of a team for the effort put fourth in the game last week.
“I told the players before the game that if they could walk off the field after the game and know that they had give everything that they had, then they could hold their heads hight. I believe I had a team that gave everything they had to each other and to their coaches.
“As a community, you should be very proud of what this team accomplished. They started working as soon as last season was over. This group of seniors laid the ground work for future Raiders to follow. Hard work and dedication to each other will pay off.
“Thanks to everyone for making this a successful football season.”