Raiders grind out 26-17 win over Ovid-Elsie in opener

The Raiders hosted the Ovid-Elsie Marauders on Friday night in the season opener. It was announced that this game was the 51st time the schools met for the season opener.

Portland received the kick off to start the game, but after one first down, the drive was stalled after multiple penalties on the offense.

OE was able to advance the ball to Portland 21-yard line, where the Marauder kicker missed a field goal attempt wide left.

The first quarter came to an end with the game tied at zero.

Soon after the second quarter started, Portland’s Cade Parmalee intercepted an OE pass.

The Raiders ended up driving the ball 60 yards for their first touchdown. The drive included a 30 plus yard pass from Austin Allison to Brock Gross, and was capped off by an eight-yard touchdown run by Gross.

Gross followed up with a successful two-point conversion to put the raiders up eight to zero with 9:12 left in the second quarter.

On OE’s ensuing possession, Raider linebacker Dean Battley intercepted a Marauder pass and ran it back to the OE 13-yard line.

Quarter back Austin Allison scored soon after on a QB keeper to the right side of the raider offensive line.

The PAT attempt by was no good. The Raiders led 14-0 with 6:09 left in the half.

The Portland kick off was returned by OE’s Evan Morris to the Portland 47. The Crusaders drove the ball down to the Portland 19, where Morris was successful on a field goal, making the score 14-3.

In Portland’s final possession of the half, Gavin Thelen returned the kick 40 plus yards, and the Raiders started their drive on the OE 43-yard line.

Portland lined up for a field goal with just seconds left. Holder Brock Gross took the ball himself through the left end of the line and scored a touchdown.

The point after was no good, and the first half ended with Portland up 20-3.

The Crusaders started the 2nd half with the ball on their own 25. Portland’s Cade Parmalee ended that drive just a few plays later with an interception near mid field.

The Raiders started their possession at the OE 40, but that drive was stopped at the OE 20.

OE put together a sustained drive and ended up scoring on a 50-yard TD pass to Carsen Vincent. The PAT by Morris was good, making the score Raiders 20, OE 10, with 1:22 left in the 3rd.

Portland struggled getting their offense restarted in the next series, and OW got the ball back on their own 26. The Crusaders put together another long drive, capped off with a three-yard touchdown run by Devin Kora. The PAT by Morris was good bring the score to 20-17 with 7:14 left in the game,

Portland started their next possession on their own 20, and seemed to finally shift some of the momentum back their way. Quarterback Allison orchestrated a time consuming 80-yard touchdown drive, carrying the ball multiple times himself. Dean Battley finished the drive with a three-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion was no good, making the score 26-17 with 2:50 left in the game.

The Crusaders gave the Raider faithful one more scare in their last possession, but ended up turning the ball over on downs on the Portland 48.

The Raiders came away with the win, 26-17.

The Raiders travel to Lansing Sexton next Thursday night.