The Raider football team hosted a Jamboree on Friday, August 30. The two opposing teams were the Blue Valley Southwest Timberwolves and the Piper Pirates. 

“Well, we’re actually in the morning every day because of the heat, so we lost over two hours with the practice time this week,” Head Coach Nick Foster said. “But everyone in the Metro is in the same position, so it’s frustrating to lose practice time, but it’s even for everybody. And the boys still came out here and played fast. It’s a good thing, so I can live with that.”

The Raiders’ first opponent was BV Southwest. South could stop the Timberwolves on their first two possessions before they went on offense. Junior running back Marquan Washington led off the Raiders’ drive with a strong rush for 8 yards and after that, the Raiders couldn’t move the ball. Washington Started the second drive with a 13-yard rush and on the next play, Senior Quarterback Carter Cox kept the ball and rushed in for a touchdown. 

When the Raiders came back on the field it was against the Pirates of Piper High School, and the Piper offense scored a touchdown on the first drive and came up just short on the second as the Raider defense could not stop the run. Another touchdown for Cox capped off the first drive for the Raiders. 

The second drive was started by a perfect throw from junior quarterback Solomon Hersch to junior wide receiver Traeh West for 18 yards but it was called back because of a penalty on the Raiders. Three plays later the Raider offense fumbled and the drive was ended. On the final drive, the Raiders aren’t able to move the ball. 

“Number one, we’re healthy, that’s the most important thing. But we played fast. We got off the football, and the guys are ready to play somebody else,” Foster said.

The Raiders look ahead to their first game of the season on Friday, September 6 away against Lawrence High.