Red Raiders ready for kickoff against Chadron

After a 294-day break, Sidney Red Raider football is finally back. Weeks of practices in the August afternoon heat have finally led up to the first edition of Friday night lights at Weymouth Field.

The Raiders are looking to pick up right where they left off last season. The excitement and anticipation at practice over the last few days has been through the roof. Intensity increased and everyone began pushing themselves just a bit harder as they could feel the countdown to tonight's kickoff waning by the hour.

Sidney head coach Todd Ekart said he's eager to see what his team can do when the bright lights come on.

"We have a lot of kids coming back and some kids that will have to play key roles that are not used to that," Ekart said. "I am just excited to see our kids raise their level of play."

To start their season with a win, the Raiders will have to do just that. Their first opponent – the Chadron Cardinals – isn't one to dismiss. It's a solid football team that finished 6-3 in 2013 and took home the C1 District 10 crown.

"In the past, they've thrown the ball very well and they are a constant winner," Ekart said.

Chadron lost some key talent from a year ago. The loss of star quarterback Tristan Stein should lighten up the passing game a little, as his replacement – senior Willy Codgill – is relatively inexperienced, having only thrown nine passes in his varsity career.

But Chadron will still return its most potent weapon this season.

The Sidney defense, led by senior Brian Rolls and its speedy secondary, could face a stern challenge in trying to slow down Chadron's dynamic all-purpose threat, senior Jackson Dickerson.

Last season Dickerson racked up 947 rushing yards and 14 scores on just 84 carries. That was good for a whopping 11.27 yards per carry. The 5-foot, 8-inch senior also hauled in 24 passes for 478 yards and five scores, averaging nearly 20 yards per catch.

Dickerson, who accumulated 1,700 all purpose yards in 2013, is a home run threat every time he touches the ball. So effective communication on defense will be key to keeping Chadron off the scoreboard in bunches.

If it's focused however, the Sidney defense has the size and athleticism to make things tough on the Cardinals' offense outside of Dickerson.

Offensively, expect the Raiders to spoon Chadron heavy doses of its powerful running game, headed by the talented trio of seniors Chance Anglin and Michael Muggli and junior Hunter Secrest.

Sidney also seems to boast an advantage in size on the offensive and defensive lines. If the running game is effective early on, watch for senior quarterback Lane Harvey to begin to find his targets – Alex Linneman and Tyler Wintholz – on the outside.

Ahead of Sidney's first game in more nine months, Ekart kept things simple in his message to his team throughout practice this week.

"They have been working hard since last season ended in the weight room and on the practice field," Ekart said. "It's time to go reap the rewards of their hard work."