Heading into the game, the Hastings Raiders knew they were the underdogs against St. Thomas Academy. STA is good, really good. Their linemen have a good 50 pounds on the average high school football player, their two primary running backs, Love Adebayo and Savion Hart, are explosive and not afraid to run multiple defenders over and they have an accurate quarterback which helps the running game.

According to the stats on the MN Football Hub, for the first three games of the season, STA was averaging 219.3 yards per game on the ground and 8.5 yards per carry. The Cadets had also outscored their opponents 1277 in three games. That is an average of 42.3 points per game.

Then the Raiders stepped in, and they came to battle. The final may have been 4813 in favor of STA, but Hastings came to fight.

The Raider offensive line, while outsized, did not give up a sack on 24 passing attempts. Quarterback Danny Millner was pressured at times but not sacked and only hit as he threw a few times. The Raider ground game had some successes too, with Peyton Burow gaining 92 yards on 21 carries for a 4.4yard average. Millner averaged 7.25 yards on his four carries for 29 yards. Overall, the Raiders moved the ball fairly well against a bigger opponent.

In the passing game, Millner did connect with Johnny Bezdicek on another huge touchdown pass, a 65yard scamper for the Raiders first score of the game. Bezdicek had a fivecatch game for 109 yards and one touchdown. Rico Cooper caught one for 10 yards and John Cloutier caught one for nine yards. Overall, the Raider offense had seven catches for 128 yards and one touchdown. With the 65yard play factored in, the Raiders averaged 18.3 yards per pass completion.

The Raiders started the game with a huge kick return by Bezdicek, who brought the ball to midfield. Unfortunately, Hastings could not capitalize on it and had to punt. The normal punter, Thomas Reifenberger was sidelined with a leg injury, so Vincent Zeyen assumed the punting duties. His first punt of the season put STA on their 30. Eight plays later, the Cadets scored on a threeyard run from Adebayo.

Possession two went better for Hastings. They started on their own 34 and moved the ball relatively well to the Cadets 24 where they turned the ball over on downs. Nine plays later, Adebayo scored again, this time on a 23yard run.

Hastings started on their own 11 following a bobbled kickoff return and they were forced to punt again giving STA their best field position of the night so far, their own 37. This is where the Raider defense had enough. The look in the eyes of the defenders told the story, ‘We are stopping them right here.’ Hastings did just that and they forced the Cadets to punt, something they rarely do because they believe they can run anyone over and get a first down.

Hastings started this drive at their own 30 and the drive stalled quickly forcing another Raider punt. This time STA started on their 30, and 12 plays, 66 yards later, with 1:05 left in the half, Adebayo scored again, and STA had the 210 lead. Hastings went to the Air to try to cut into the Cadets lead, but a 50yard interception ended the half.

The Cadets started the second half with the ball and Hastings was looking for a big play to get back into the game, and they thought they had it with an ESPN highlightreel interception by Sawyer Tjomsland at the Raiders 11yard line. Tjomsland dropped back into coverage, saw the ball coming his way and had to make a diving catch on a tipped pass to complete the turnover. Tjomsland had to lay out and grow a few inches to haul in the turnover and managed to maintain possession as he slammed into the turf, a catch that reinvigorated the Raider sideline.

Hastings could not capitalize on the interception and went threeandout. Six plays later, and Adebayo scored his second receiving touchdown of the game. Adebayo was responsible for the first 28 points of the game, a game that was quickly getting out of reach for the Raiders.

The Cadets learned their lesson kicking the ball deep to Hastings which meant every kickoff was set to be a worm burner to make it tough to return properly. Burow fielded this kick perfectly and brought it out to the Hastings 35. One play later, the Raiders were on the board with a 65yard pass from Millner to Bezdicek.

With the score 287 Cadets, Hastings went for the onside kick and STA was ready, fielding the ball at the Raider 49. Seven plays later, senior tight end Jordan Wold scored on an 11yard reception to make the score 357.

The Raiders took possession at their own 33 but another Millner pass was intercepted and returned 11 yards to the Raider 38. The Cadets went to the ground, and this time Hastings forced a fumble that was recovered by Tom Kennedy of the Raiders at their own 34.

Seven plays later, Burow got loose for a 33yard touchdown run. The PAT failed and the Raiders kicked the ball deep to put STA at their own 24. Seven plays later, the Cadets scored again, this time with Hart scoring from 10 yards out. That PAT failed as well, and the Cadets led 4113.

By now, the rain was a factor for both teams, a massive downpour hit Todd Field in the second half and, while shortlived, the field was wet, and the ball was not easy to hold onto. Hastings dropped the ball, and the Cadets recovered a their own 28. Hart was given the ball and he was gone for a 72yard touchdown run. STA led 4813. Hastings got the ball back at their own 30 and an interception by St. Thomas at their own 42 ended the game.

Against Hastings, the Cadets 12 punch of Adebayo and Hart combined for 225 of the 265 yards on the ground and five touchdowns on 28 of STA’s 37 carries. Adebayo added a receiving TD.

Any loss is disappointing, especially in the short high school season. The Raiders did something to St. Thomas Academy that no school had done all year: They scored twice on them and had 251 yards of offense.

The Raiders never quit. They knew they were facing a superior opponent and they fought hard and never gave up. Defensively, they were gang tackling, hitting hard and playing smart. Offensively, they were exploding into their blocks and not afraid to get hit by the defense.

The loss drops Hastings to 13 on the season at the halfway point. The Raiders have a good opportunity to move to .500 against the Packers of South St. Paul this Friday, September 30 at 7 p.m. in South St. Paul at Ettinger Field. The Packers are 04 with a 427 loss to STA, 3520 loss to Tartan, 557 loss to Holy Angels and a 567 loss to Simley.

In four games, the Packers have run for 500 yards, passed for 167 yards with a completion percentage of 44.2. They have allowed 393 yards through the air and 1090 on the ground.

Peyton Burow led the way on the ground again for the Raiders rushing for 92 yards on 21 carries with one touchdown. Photo by Bruce Karnick

Gang tackling was key to stop the punishing Cadets running backs Love Adebayo and Savion Hart. Even with great gang tackles like this, the two backs ran for 225 yards against the Raiders.Photo by Bruce Karnick