Tough Breaks Sink Raiders

Dropped balls and inopportune mistakes hit Sidney's Red Raider football team for the second week in a row, as they lost to Chadron 34-20 Friday at home.

In their first game against a district foe, the Raiders had hoped to make a strong showing to establish themselves as a team to beat in the district. But Chadron and its air attack had other ideas, taking advantage of Sidney miscues along the way.

After receiving the opening kickoff Sidney lost the ball on a fumble on the first snap from scrimmage. Chadron was unable to convert the first and goal from the nine yard line, but left the Raiders 91 yards away from a chance to score.

Sidney got a little drive going on that second possession, gaining one first down and on the verge of another when a second fumble gave the ball back to the Cardinals.

Ten plays later Chadron found the end zone for the game's first score, on a six-yard pass from Trevor Berry to Colton Olson. Chadron made it 8-0, as without a place kicker, they used a two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.

But Sidney was also able to take advantage of a Chadron fumble in the opening minutes of the second quarter, when after recovering a Cardinal fumble, mounted an eight play, 25-yard drive that culminated with a one-yard touchdown run by quarterback Arick Doty. Sidney missed the point after, making it 8-6.

It looked as if Sidney was getting something going at that point when the defense held Chadron on the following series. Chadron punted, but Sidney again couldn't find the handle on the ball and fumbled the catch. Add to that a personal foul on the Raiders, and Chadron had the ball just 13 yards out.

Sidney's defense and an illegal formation Chadron backed the ball to the 21, then Gabe Schumacher sacked Berry to put Chadrom at third and 27. But the Cardinals continued to fly by the pass and two plays later led 14-0 on their second touchdown pass.

Sidney still fought back, however, answering with a 70-yard drive that started with a 35-yard romp by junior Zack Wieser, who also ended the drive with a one-yard touchdown run. The Raiders evened things up at 14-14 going into halftime.

Sidney had another hiccup to begin the second half, when on its first possession a low snap on a punt resulted in a loss of possession, putting Chadron on the Raider 28 yard line. The Cards regained the lead 22-14 on Berry's third touchdown pass of the night.

Still, the Raiders recovered to mount another scoring drive that closed out the third and went into the fourth quarter. That time the Raiders completed the 91-yard task in 14 plays, coming to within two on a Doty option keeper. Sidney missed its two-point conversion try.

But that was as close as the Raiders would come, as they were beset with misfortune in the waning minutes. A punt snap went over the Sidney punter's head, and Chadron converted that into a three-yard touchdown run in short order. Sidney went three and out on the following possession, and Chadron sealed the win with a 56-yard scoring drive.

The Raiders, now 3-2 on the season, travel to Class B-ranked Scottsbluff Friday for their next outing.