GOOD HOPE, Ala. – The Raiders faced a tough Haleyville football team for their homecoming contest this week, but a late touchdown pass put Good Hope on top in the final moments and the Raiders held on to win it 27-24.
Haleyville got the ball first and found the end zone in six plays to start the game with a 7-0 lead. The Raiders got the ball on their own 25 and were able to pound it into the end zone after 11 plays when Colton Bagwell punched in the first Good Hope touchdown of the night to tie the score at 7.
The Lions took the ball on their own 33, and with a little help from some Raider penalties, they were able to get in field goal range and knock one through to take a 10-7 lead. The Raiders drove the ball down to the 2-yard line before fumbling to the Lions, but Haleyville was forced to punt from its own end zone just a few plays later.
The Raiders weren’t able to do much of anything with the Lions’ strong defensive front forcing Good Hope to punt, and luckily for the Lions, it was a touchback, giving them the ball at their own 20-yard line. Haleyville was forced to punt after a long drive and pinned the Raiders at their own 3-yard line, but Good Hope held on to the ball, bringing an end to the first half trailing the Lions 10-7.
The Raiders got the ball to start the second half and got back on the board with the ground game to take a 14-10 lead. The Lions answered right back with a touchdown to regain the lead 17-14 still early in the third.
Not counting themselves out, the Raiders found the end zone again thanks to a 77-yard run by Bagwell that set up Ethan Anderson for the 3-yard scoring run that made it a 20-17 game. The extra point was blocked, and Good Hope went on top 20-17. Good Hope’s defense came out strong to force a punt and give the ball back to the offense at its own 16-yard line. Unfortunately, the Raiders coughed the ball right back up and the Lions retook possession at the Raiders’ 5-yard line. Haleyville took advantage of the great field position and scored in just two plays to take a 24-20 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Good Hope got the ball back on its own 35 and pounded it down to the Lions’ 17-yard line only to be bit by the fumble bug once again. However, the Raider defense was able to keep the Lions from scoring and got the ball back in the hands of the offense.
Quarterback Tanner Malin then put the game away when he connected with Jager Burns for a 38-yard, nail-biting touchdown pass that gave Good Hope a 27-24 lead with just a minute and a half left in the game. The Raider defense jumped right on the field and forced the Lions to turn the ball over on downs, putting Good Hope in victory formation for one last play of the most thrilling ball game the Raiders have played all season.
The Raiders will make the short trip to Hanceville next week to play the Bulldogs with hopes of bringing their record to 5-0.
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