Having a running back like Shatek behind me makes me feel way more confident. I can always rely on him to get us down the field.”

Junior quarterback Carter Hanson

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The next time to catch the Raiders in action is Friday, Sept. 5 at Bloomington Stadium against Bloomington Jefferson. The boys return home on Sept. 12 to host Chaska.

The Hastings Raiders kicked off their 2025 high school football season at home with a gutsy 20-17 win over New Prague Thursday night at McNamara Stadium. Powered by a relentless ground game, a poised first-time quarterback, and a defense that bent but never broke, the Raiders delivered a statement in their season opener.
Junior quarterback Carter Hanson made his varsity debut, and while the moment brought nerves early, it didn’t take long for him to settle in.
“I was a little nervous, but after that first snap, I started getting the rhythm of it,” Hanson said. “It was just a blast. It was fun.”
Running back Zack Shatek stole the spotlight, punching in all three of Hastings' touchdowns with hard-nosed runs of 4, 3, and 11 yards. He carried the ball 26 times for a staggering 215 yards, averaging over eight yards a touch, and gave the offense the identity it needed.
“Having a running back like Shatek behind me makes me feel way more confident,” Hanson said. “I can always rely on him to get us down the field.”
That confidence was backed up by a dominant performance from the offensive line, which gave Hanson clean pockets and opened holes all night.
“They performed amazing,” he added. “I didn’t get tackled once.”
Hastings’ offense opened the night with a 10-play, 80-yard drive capped by Shatek’s first score. They went into halftime trailing 17-14 after two explosive touchdown passes from New Prague quarterback Carter DenHartog to Sawyer Jasperson and a late field goal from Thomas Geiger.
Head coach Dana Strain kept his message simple in the locker room.
“We just talked about staying the course,” Strain said. “We knew it was going to be a tough battle, and these are the types of games you’ve got to hang around and find ways to win.”
The second half became a battle of field position and adjustments. Hastings' defense clamped down, holding New Prague scoreless over the final two quarters. Despite surrendering 215 passing yards, they tightened when it mattered most, especially late in the fourth.
With just over a minute left, Hastings capped a 10-play, 85-yard march with Shatek’s third touchdown, giving the Raiders a 20-17 lead they wouldn’t surrender.
The Trojans had a chance to tie the game after quickly moving 30 yards downfield. With just five seconds left on the clock, New Prague marched their strong-legged kicker Thomas Geiger out hoping to tie the game. The snap was good, the hold went down without an issue as the Raiders broke through the line. Multiple Raiders extended their arms and dove toward the ball, with Grant Birken making the contact for the block, sealing the win in dramatic fashion.
“Our kids never wilted,” Strain said. “They just kept playing. That’s an enormous feather in our cap, especially in a first game. Sometimes that kind of resilience carries through an entire season.”
On the night, the Raiders ran 58 plays for 403 total yards compared to New Prague’s 373. Hanson completed 11 of 19 passes for 155 yards, spreading the ball around to five different receivers. Matt Foss led the way with 99 receiving yards on six catches.
On special teams, the kicking unit showed room for improvement. Both of Hastings' extra point attempts were blocked, a detail not lost on the coaching staff.
“We’ll just clean it up,” Strain said. “We’ll keep working at it. It’s no different than any other play. We’ve got work to do.”
New Prague, despite the loss, showed promise. Jasperson finished with eight catches for 129 yards and two scores, while DenHartog threw for 215 yards and completed 15 of 22 passes.
But it was Hastings who came out with the win, thanks to their ability to control the ball, dominate the run game, and make stops when it mattered most.
The next time to catch the Raiders in action is Friday, Sept. 5 at Bloomington Stadium against Bloomington Jefferson. The boys return home on Sept. 12 to host Chaska. Both games are scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start.