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Raider Season Ends in Ord

Sidney's Red Raiders traveled nearly four hours and a time zone away to take on the Ord Chanticleers in the first round of the playoffs, and fell 53-to-21 to the No.3 seed in the district. Sidney entered the playoff tournament the 14 seed, and knew they would need a mistake-free offensive and defensive effort to contain the high powered Ord attack. After a good start by the Red Raiders, the Chanticleers took over the game by scoring 52 unanswered points to end Sidney's playoff run.

The game started with perfect weather conditions and a slight breeze, and Sidney received the ball first on offense. After the kickoff, the Red Raiders started with two running plays that netted a total of six yard. On third down senior quarterback Arik Doty attempted to pass, but all of his receivers were covered, and he ended up making the correct play by throwing the ball away and then punting, giving the Chanticleers a first and ten on their own 39 yard line.

Sidney knew it would need to take advantage of every opportunity if they were to stop the Ord team, and on the Chanticleer's first play from scrimmage, the Red Raiders were able to capitalize on Ord's first mistake of the game, as Ord senior quarterback Jesse Ulrich fumbled as he hit the line on a running play. The ball popped into the air, and Sidney senior Zach Pettit grabbed it and sprinted all the way for a touchdown. After a Doty extra point, the Red Raiders were leading 7-to-0 and looking to capitalize on the next Ord mistake.

Ord did not make many mistakes after their first possession, at least none that mattered to the final result of the game.

On their second possession, the Chanticleers started on their own 35 yard line and passed and ran 65 yards in six plays culminating in an Ulrich four-yard run for a touchdown. After a successful extra point, the score was tied at 7-to-7. Sidney got the ball back and started their second drive, with runs of two then four yard bringing up a third and four situation that had Doty again passing. This time the ball tipped off of the receiver's hands, and was intercepted by Ord's Ulrich, who then returned the ball to the Red Raider's 28 yard line. Four plays later, Ulrich ran for another touchdown and with a successful extra point, the score then moved to 14-to-7 in Ord's favor.

It was becoming clear that Ord was beating Sidney on both sides of the line, as Sidney again started their possession with two runs for only three yards, and a third down pass attempt that was dropped by senior Alec Maddox after Ord's Jesse Ulrich delivered a hard hit. Doty then shanked a punt, and the Chanticleers took over on the Sidney 37-yard line. After gaining a first down, the Chanticleers scored another touchdown on a play action pass and with the successful extra point were in control at 21-to-7 midway through the first quarter.

After another series with the Raiders unable to run or convert a third down pass, the Chanticleers took over on their own 38 yard line. The Sidney defense was able to get in the backfield on the first play, stuffing a run for a loss of three yards. But on the second play, an option pass fooled the defense, and Ulrich found a receiver wide open for a 61 yard touchdown connection. After the successful point after kick, the Red Raiders were put into a 28-to-7 hole with 1:48 still left in the first quarter.

On Sidney's next possession, an incomplete pass then an option run that lost four yards brought up a third and 14 situation. Doty's third down pass was intercepted by Ord junior Riley Warner and returned to the Raider 31 yard line. Six plays later, Ord senior Dalton Hulbert ran five yards to score a touchdown, and with another successful extra point the Chanticleer's lead increased to 34-to-7 with 10:19 left in the first half.

Sidney was able to get their running game going to start their next possession, with sophomore Brady Robb running for four yards, then followed by junior Eli Ahrens running for 12 yards and Sidney's first first down of the game. After Robb ran again for a gain of four, Ahrens ran again but fumbled and the ball was recovered by Ord on the Sidney 43 yard line. Three plays later, Ulrich found sophomore Bentley Reilly in the flat and the short pass was turned into a 36 yard touchdown and after another successful point after the Chanticleer's lead increased to 42-to-7.

Another Sidney three and out gave Ord the ball on the 46 after a 26 yard punt by Doty. Ord marched down the field again, but this time after a third down pass fell incomplete, the Chanticleers had to settle for a 23-yard field goal by sophomore Kelen Meyer to increase their lead to 45-to-7 with 4:17 left in the first half.

Sidney was able to gain a first down on their next possession, but were still forced to punt again and Ord took over on their own 21 yard line. After a few plays and a holding penalty, the Chanticleers decided to run out the clock and took a 45-to-7 lead into the break. Sidney was held to just 54 total yards, one pass completion on seven attempts, and turned the ball over three times while the Chanticleers racked up 330 total yards and had one turnover in the half.

The second half went quickly, as the mercy rule was being applied for most of the half due to the score, and the clock would not be stopped to shorten the game.

After another Ord touchdown on the first drive, both teams substituted many of their players for the duration of the contest. Sidney was able to put together a long drive going 76 on 16 plays and Ahrens punched the ball through for a touchdown on a one yard plunge. After a two-point conversion failed, the score moved to 52-to-13.

Ord next started deep in their own territory, and were able to drive the ball but eventually were forced to punt the ball away, and Sidney started again on their own 19 yard line. The Red Raiders were able to move the ball through the air and on the ground against the Ord substitutes, and junior Zak Wieser scored Sidney's final touchdown of the game with a seven yard run to paydirt. Wieser also ran for the two point conversion, making the score 52-to-21, which would be the end result as Ord ran the clock out during the final two minutes of the game to secure the victory for the home team.

After the game, Sidney head coach Chris Koozer had praise for his team, saying, "I am proud of what the kids accomplished this year. Ord is a very strong team, and we started off too slowly on offense and defense to be able to hang with a team of their caliber. I really appreciate what the seniors put into this program over the last four years, and hopefully we can keep the momentum going."

Sidney finishes season with a 6-and-4 record, 3-and-1 in district, and looks to return strong with a talented group of underclassmen ready to replace the seniors that will be lost to graduation.

 

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