The Raider football team (230) travelled to South St. Paul’s Ettinger Field to take on the Packers (050) on Friday night, and Hastings escaped with an overtime thriller.

Hastings took the early lead on a four play, 42yard drive that culminated with a sevenyard run by Danny Millner. Three minutes later, the Packers concluded their scoring drive, a six play, 65yard drive, with a 35yard run. Both PAT attempts failed, and the game was tied 66.

South St. Paul was not done in the first quarter, scoring on a sevenplay, 16yard drive, that culminated in fiveyard touchdown strike. The twopoint conversion was good, and the Packers had a 146 lead.

The second quarter had little action with both teams preventing the other from doing much offensively and the game remained 146 at the half.

The Packers scored once more in the third quarter to take a 206 lead with 2:41 left in the third. That is when things started to click for the Raiders. Less than two minutes later, the Raiders had a four play, 70yard drive, scoring on a 69yard pass from Millner to Jonathon Bezdicek. The quarter ended 2012 Packers.

Hastings scored once more off the arm of Millner. He hit Caleb Folstrom on a one play, 58yard touchdown strike to bring the Raiders to within two. The following twopoint conversion was good with a pass from Millner to Rico Cooper and the game was tied at 20.

In the first overtime, each team has a chance to score, starting at the opponent 10yard line. South St. Paul scored in three plays and the PAT kick was good, meaning the Raiders would need to score and tie again to continue or take the lead and win. Millner hit Bezdicek again, this time on the first play of the drive and then again on the twopoint conversion giving Hastings the win 2827.

With the ground game stalling on the night, Hastings took to the air. The Raiders had 247 yards total, and Millner went 16 of 28 with three touchdowns and just one interception. Bezdicek had a career night with eight catches for 143 yards, Folstrom had one catch for 58 yards, Rico Cooper had four catches for 39 yards and John Cloutier caught one for 16 yards.

Defensively, the Raiders gave up 325 yards on 52 plays.

Up next is homecoming against Two Rivers on Friday night, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m. at Todd Field.

Johnny Bezdicek celebrates after making a leaping grab on the two-point conversion in overtime to give Hastings the walk-off win over South St. Paul. Photo by Sarah Wasvick

Pacer Ruble, #52, was back in action after an injury had him on the sidelines. The return of Ruble was key to solidifying the Raider offensive line and allowed Raider QB Danny Millner to have a career night by passing for 247 yards and three touchdowns.Photo bySarah Wasvick