The game against Robbinsdale Cooper started out as a game that it looked like nobody wanted to win. Both offenses struggled the first half with stalled drives that ended with either a punt, an interception or a turnover on downs. Both defenses were playing well, each logging an interception in the first half, until Cooper scored with 32 seconds to go in the second quarter garnering an 8-0 lead and ultimately the victory 22-8.

Each of the teams’ first drives resulted in a punt, then Hastings turned the ball over on downs inside the Cooper 40. Robbinsdale moved down the field until they tried to make a deep connection. The Cooper QB overthrew his receiver and Cade Kimmes leapt making a great interception for Hastings. Sadly, Hastings mirrored the Hawks drive on their next possession, losing the ball on an interception as well.

It wasn’t until 32 seconds left in the half when the first points were put on the board. Cooper scored on a nine play; 66-yard drive capped off by an 18-yard reception. The Hawks then punched it in for the 2-point conversion.

The Hastings defense forced a turnover on downs to start the second half and a pass sailed on Raider QB Lucas Foss for a second interception on the ensuing drive. Cooper capitalized on the turnover, scoring just four plays later to go up 15-0.

The Raiders started the next drive on their own 18 and this time marched down the field in 10 plays to score on a 23-yard reception by Jack Cloutier to bring the game within seven.

Unfortunately for Hastings, that was all the offense and points they could muster, and they fell 22-8.

Offensively, Foss was 13-for-28 passing with 108 yards, one touchdown, one extra point and two interceptions. He also ran twice for two yards.

Cole Zeien ran 23 times for 61 yards with the entire Raider offense rushing for a total of 49 yards on 29 attempts.

Jack Cloutier led the Raider receivers with three catches for 41 yards and a touchdown. Thomas McGinnis also had three catches for 28 yards, Brady Nickel had one catch for 17 yards, Matt Foss had two catches for 12 yards and Kyan Esterby had two catches for 12 yards.

The defense saw 54 plays and allowed three touchdowns on 283 yards. The defense forced one interception.

With the loss, Hastings finished the season with an overall record of 2-6, a Section 3AAAAA record of 1-2 and a Metro East Conference record of 1-3. Raiders were assigned the fifth seed and will travel to Two Rivers on Tuesday, October 24 to take on the fourth-seeded Warriors at 7:00 p.m.

Seeding for the Section Tournament is as follows:

1 - St. Thomas Academy

2 - Bloomington Jefferson

3 - Apple Valley

4 - Two Rivers

5 - Hastings

6 - Bloomington Kennedy

Interesting notes.

Hastings defeated Two Rivers this year giving them their only loss on the season and only loss in the section.

Apple Valley (3-5) had no wins in the section and only one win more than Hastings overall, but they were given the third seed over Two Rivers (7-1) and Hastings (2-6).

St. Thomas Academy (6-2) was 2-0 in the section, and they were given the number one seed.

We will have an updated results for the Tuesday game on our social media and a full recap in next weeks edition of the Hastings Journal.