Raider Football defeats Eaton Rapids to stay in CAAC White Drivers Seat

On Friday night, the Raiders traveled to Eaton Rapids to face off against the Greyhounds in a key CAAC White match-up.

The Raiders entered the game with a 2-1 record coming off a thrilling victory over Lansing Catholic. Eaton Rapids entered the game 1-2 after defeating Ionia 27-21 in week three.

The Greyhounds kicked off to start the game and after a miscue by the Raiders, ER recovered the ball deep in Raider territory. The Greyhounds would not be able to reach the endzone, but did come away with a field goal by junior kicker Eddie Jewett and took an early 3-0 lead.

The Raiders would respond in their following possession when junior running back Caden Galey punched it into the endzone from three yards out. Senior kicker Cameron Roof connected on the point after giving the Raiders a 7-0 lead with 5:52 remaining in the first.

The Greyhounds still had plenty of bite left in them early in the game. With 4:22 remaining in the first quarter of play, ER senior QB Lucas Alvarez scored on a four-yard run. Jewett connected on the point after and ER regained the lead, 10-7.

The Raider offense wasted no time in responding. Junior RB Trent Trierweiler sprinted in for a 25-yard TD run. Roof connected on the point after and the Raiders took the lead 14-10.

With the Greyhounds going for it in a fourth-down situation, the Portland defense came up with an impressive stop and took over possession with excellent field position. The Raider offense would capitalize when Galey would punch it in from four yards out. Roof nailed the point after and the Raiders extended their lead to 21-10 with 9:30 remaining in the second quarter.

Before the second quarter was over, Portland junior QB Haden Getchell would pick up two touchdowns of his own. One was a 6-yard TD run with 5:42 remaining in the second, and the second was a 40-yard spring with 3:35 remaining in the second. Roof would connect on both extra points and the Raiders would lead 35-10.

The Greyhounds were able bite one more time before the half when Alvarez connected on a 32-yard TD pass to senior Jimmy Brown. Jewett connected on the point after making the score 35-17 with 1:03 remaining in the second quarter.

As time expired in the second quarter of play, Roof would connect on a field goal making the halftime score Portland 38, Eaton Rapids 17.

In the second half of play, the Raiders would reach the endzone two more times. The first was an 8-yard touchdown run by Galey with 8:39 left in the third. The second was a 4-yard run by sophomore Drew Miller with 4:52 remaining in the third. Roof would connect on both point after attempts and the Raiders extended their lead to 52-17.

The Greyhounds would pick up their final points of the game when Alvarez connected with Brown on a 27-yard TD pass to Brown. Jewett’s extra point was good.

As time expired, the final score Raiders 52, Greyhounds 24.

Portland Rushing Leaders: Caden Galey 9carries for 51 yards and 3 TDs Reis Phillips 8 carries for 53 yards Trent Trierweiler 6carrioes for 53 yards and 1 TD Drew Miller 7 carries for 23 yards and 1 TD Haden Getchell 5 carries for 100 yards and 1 TD Trent Meyers 3 carries for 17 yards Portland Passing: Haden Getchell 4 for 5 for 41 yards Portland Defensive Leaders: Jayce Gillette 9 tackles Trent Meyers 8 tackles 1 interception

After the game, Portland head coach John Novara said, “We had a slow start. We fumbled the opening kickoff, and then Eaton Rapids got a little momentum, but I thought our kids hung in there and battled tough. I thought we played great offensively. We put some pressure on them then, and we made some adjustments in the second half. The kids played a lot better in the second half.”

With the win, Portland improves to 3-1. They travel to Ionia on Friday night for their final CAAC White conference matchup of the season. Ionia is 0-4 so far this season.

The Raiders are then scheduled to end their regular season on Friday 10/23 against Battle Creek Pennfield. Pennfield is currently 2-2 and had a huge win over perennial powerhouse Jackson Lumen Christi 28-20 on October 9th.

Editors Note: Kayla Weller and Sarah Townsend assisted with writing this piece.