After eight games and six weeks of road games, the Raiders finally enjoyed their home opener on Thursday night as they hosted Jackson Prep at The Brickyard in JV and Varsity action. The Raiders and Patriots played a close contest in the first match of the night as the two teams were tied at halftime. The JV Patriots broke through in the second half with a score off a corner kick in the 38th minute. After a brief stoppage due to a slight power outage the game was resumed and Prep added a second goal late to provide the final margin as the Patriots won 2-0. That dropped the overall record to 3-3 for the JV Raiders and 0-2 in conference play.

In Varsity action, the Raiders and Patriots played one of their usual close and physical battles on the Brickyard pitch. Both teams were coming off a season in which neither lifted the highest Division Championship trophy for the first time since 2006 (Starkville Academy). They each had many chances early in the match and Prep even had an penalty kick that was saved by Jamison Graham in the 55th minute to keep it scoreless. He finished with five saves on the night including three total saves on penalties. It remained that way all they way through regulation before the Raiders took the lead in the closing moments of the first half of overtime. Bo Barbour threw it in from the far sideline and it was headed by Sam Chustz right to the middle and Sam Cook headed it into the net to give JA the lead. The Patriots responded with the equalizer two minutes into the second half of overtime which forced the game into penalty kicks. Prep won 3-2 on kicks from the spot to claim the win. JA fell to 4-6 overall and 1-1 in 6A play. The Raiders are on the road Saturday as they take on St. Andrew’s in Rid. JV at 5:00pm followed by Varsity at 6:30pm.

Watch/Purchase - Raider Network Broadcast - JV Boys Game
Watch/Purchase - Raider Network Broadcast - Varsity Boys Game