The Raiders football team traveled to New Hope to take on Robbinsdale Cooper on Oct. 16 where they fell to a very beatable team, 27-20. The two teams traded scores through the third quarter with Hastings holding the 20-19 edge through 36 minutes. Cooper went up 27-20 in the fourth quarter and Hastings was marching for a shot at the win before a questionable penalty killed the drive and the Raiders fell 27-20.
Hastings drew first blood on their second possession of the game. The drive went 87 yards in seven plays and was capped off by a beautiful catch and run from Jack Cloutier. Cloutier’s touchdown catch was a 55-yard reception where he had to shake off a couple defenders enroute to the endzone. The two-point conversion attempt was no good.
Cooper struck back immediately on the ensuing kickoff housing an 88-yard return for the TD.
The first quarter expired, and the Raiders scored the first points of the second quarter on a five play, 45-yard drive that was punched in on a two-yard quarterback keeper by Lukas Foss. The score was setup by a beautiful leaping grab by Matt Foss. Johan Rova-Hegener drilled the PAT and Hastings was back on top 13-7.
The Hawks fought back on their next drive and after a 20-yard pass and a failed PAT, the game was tied at 13 for the intermission.
Hastings received the ball to start the second half, and their first drive of the half stalled forcing a punt. Cooper took advantage of the stoppage and two plays later, thanks to a 67-yard touchdown run, they had the lead 19-13.
Hastings matched the Hawks drive on their next possession. The Raiders went 66 yards on eight plays and Zach Shatek scampered 13 yards for the touchdown. Rova-Hegener put the PAT through, and Hastings was up 20-19.
Two possessions later, the Hawks scored the go-ahead touchdown then ran in a two-point conversion to go up 27-20.
“Our kids battled. We just continued to fight, and we had moments where we weren't clean and made mistakes, and most of it was kind of self-inflicted, which is something we have to clean up. A lot of times that can demoralize you, and then it just kind of snowballs. Our kids didn't do that. They continued to battle and gave us a chance all the way to the end. I am extremely proud of them,” said Head Coach Dana Strain.
That fight shone through the last drive of the game. Hastings took possession on their own 29-yard line and two plays later they were well into Cooper territory. That is when Lucas Foss took a seven step drop and looked to connect with his brother Matt near the 10-yard line. There was a miscommunication on the play call and Matt stopped just 10 yards into the route.
“It was just a miscommunication between the two. So, one kid reads that he's going to stop. One kid reads it's going to be a go. The truth is it might be the right call. When I think it through, it doesn't really matter. So, you have to just be careful not to blame refs and things like that. We just had to overcome it, certainly disappointing that it happened at that moment. It's not anybody's fault,” said Strain, explaining what happened next.
What happened next was a penalty called on Hastings for intentional grounding. The officials had to have a lengthy conference to make the decision and for some reason, that was the decision. Despite Strain’s request to not blame the officials, it was a bad call, and it killed the drive.
Were there other opportunities for the Raiders to take the lead? Absolutely, and as many folks say, it is best not to be in the position to let the officials change the outcome of the game, it was just really poor timing for forcing a call like that because that kind of call is a judgement call.
Offensively, Hastings had a productive night going 295 yards on 54 plays. Lukas Foss was 9 for 21 passing with 169 yards and one touchdown. Rushing, the Raiders went for 126 yards and two touchdowns.
Hastings had four receivers with two catches each, Jack Cloutier (64 yards 1 TD), Matt Foss (46 yards), Grant Birken (42 yards) and Marlowe Strain (15 yards).
Defensively, Hastings faced 50 plays and allowed only 338 yards with just three offensive touchdowns.
Special teams allowed 130 yards with the 88-yard touchdown return.
The Raiders finished the regular season 1-2 in the section,3-5 overall which was good enough to give them the three seed for the Section 3AAAAA playoffs. They will host the sixth seeded Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars on Oct. 22, we will have the results of that game in the next edition of the Journal. If advances, and they should defeat Jefferson, they will play on Oct. 26 at St. Thomas Academy with the time to be determined. Watch our social media for updates.
