Oct 18, 2010

Raiders to host semi-final Oct. 30

Despite having four touchdowns nullified by penalties, the Central Lakes College Raiders football team earned the right to host a state semi-final football game on Oct. 30 by defeating Vermilion, 35-6, at Findorff Field on Sat., Oct. 16. The win was 11th-ranked* CLC's eighth straight without a loss and was a day to recognize the parents of all sophomore players on the team. For the first 21 minutes, the Raiders found themselves needing to improve drastically as they fumbled away the ball three times, and mishandled it three more times. "We came out a little flat today," running back Nick Grewe said. "We've been having a little trouble with that lately, but we're working on it." When the Raiders found themselves trailing the winless Ironmen, they followed up a five-play, 73-yard drive with a 10-play, 81-yard drive to take a 14-6 halftime lead. On the first play of the second half Grewe took a pitch to the right, picked up a block and cut back upfield for an 80-yard TD. The Bertha-Hewitt product finished with a season-high 191 rushing yards, before being relieved by Montrel Hemsworth, who highlighted a 99-yard performance by bowling over Ironmen for a 68-yard score. CLC amassed 433 yards on the ground. All-Conference candidate Dominique Corder completed six of 15 passes for 65 yards. Corder passed for two TDs - a 25-yard strike to Ryan Fay and 26-yarder to Johnny Egan. He spun his way up the sideline for a 21-yard rushing score. The Raiders travel to Ridgewater Sat., Oct. 23 to close the regular season of MCAC play and defend their state championship as well as retain the coveted axe in a special theme at Willmar. On Oct. 30, the Raiders will play either Mesabi Range or Northland, depending on the outcome of a showdown between those two Northern Division teams Oct. 23. * NJCAA Division III poll Oct. 19, 2010.