By Sebastian Wiegand, Sports Editor

Last Friday players and fans were excited to take the 45 minute drive to Westminster to watch the football team play their first game.  The ride home was much less enthusiastic.  

After a taking a 44-6 loss to the Westminster Wolves there was nothing to be excited about.  The raiders struggled to stop the run, and couldn’t muster enough offense to stay in the game.

“It was a learning experience,” Said Junior AJ Thomas who ran for 63 yards, “we all need to improve as a team.”

At first the game looked to be a tight one with the teams tied at 0 to end the first quarter,  however with two drives aided by personal fouls the Wolves took a 16-0 lead into halftime.  After the half Westminster came out on fire as they quickly added 2 more touchdowns.  

The Raiders made a stand at the end of the third shutting down a drive inside the red zone and then adding on six of their own as Junior Quarterback Braden Cook connected with Senior Wide Receiver EJ Reed for a 52 yard touchdown.

Westminster was able to keep Kick Returner Devante Wheaton at bay as they kicked every kickoff out of the endzone for touchbacks.

“We gotta get better as a unit and a team, and we have to play as a family.”  Said Coach Hoffman.

The Raiders will play in their home opener on Thursday when they take on Overland at 6 o’clock at APS Stadium.