Red Raiders Fall to Swedes, 38-6

Sidney’s Red Raider Football team looked to stop their losing streak with a C1-8 District matchup with the visiting 1-and-5 Gothenburg Swedes , but were unable to stop the Swedes running game that tallied 271 yards on the night.

The Red Raiders won the toss, and deferred to start the game on defense. Gothenburg had been plagued with injuries, but saw the return of their starting quarterback Wes Geiken to lead the offense.

The first quarter was scoreless, with Sidney holding off the Swedes on their initial drive, only to have Gothenburg’s outstanding kicker Bronson Long boom a punt, and have the Sidney offense start at their own 20 yard line. It was a recurring theme of the night, with Sidney starting with bad field position while Gothenburg started many of their drives well within Sidney territory.

Sidney had their best drive of the game until late in the fourth quarter early on, highlighted by bug runs by Nathan Kennedy, Cam Leeling and Austin Wolfe. But the Raiders stalled on the Swedes 26 yard line and turned the ball over on downs. It would be the deepest penetration for the Raiders until late in the game on a fourth quarter scoring drive after the contest was out of reach.

After the Swedes took over and drove the ball to mid-field, Sidney forced a third and seven, but Geiken was able to scramble and run for 25 yards. Two runs later, running back Tra Rossell found paydirt with a 7 yard touchdown run to give Gothenburg a 7-to-0 lead to begin the second quarter. Long again blasted the ensuing kickoff, starting Sidney again at their own 20 yard line. The Raiders could not move the ball, and the Swedes agains took over with good field position, and scored again to increase their lead to 14-to-0. Sidney went three-and-out on their next three possessions, and had a chance to swing the momentum in their favor when Gothenburg again marched deep into Sidney territory, and a fumble stopped their drive on the Sidney 4 yard line. Sidney again could not move the ball, and punted from their own end zone. Isak Doty’s 28 yard punt was returned 21 yards, and the Swedes started at the Raider’s 14 yard line. But the Sidney defense stiffened, and after Gothenburg was stopped, the Swedes tried for a 33 yard field goal. The snap was mishandled, and holder Jake Burge picked up the loose ball and ran up the middle for a first down. Gothenburg senior Abe Mendez then ran for a touchdown to increase the lead 21-to-0 at the half.

Sidney started the second half with the ball and managed a first down on a Gothenburg penalty, but again gave up the ball in good field position for the Swedes. Gothenburg converted for points on a 34 yard field goal to increase their lead to 24-to-0. After another Sidney three-and-out and a bad punt, the Swedes needed only three plays to score, an 8 yard plunge up the middle by Burge. Now down 31-to-0, Sidney’s next drive started well with the Raiders earning a first down, but then Gothenburg picked off a pass at midfield and returned it to the Sidney 31 yard line. A few plays later, Gothenburg scored again on a two-yard plunge by Mendez, increasing the lead to 38-to-0 and initiating the running clock.

With the reserves playing, Sidney was able to finally drive down the field and score, but the game was already decided, and ended with a final score of 38-to-6. Sidney was held to just 195 yards of total offense, with Austin Wolfe leading the Raiders with 49 yards on 8 carries. It doesn’t get easier for Sidney as they travel to Ogallala to face the 4-and-3 Indians Friday night.