(New Buffalo, MI) - The Red Arrow Raiders delivered another shellacking in their undefeated start to the season in high school football.

 

The Raiders (2-0) won 64-14 at Fennville on August 31st.

 

In both games combined, the team comprised of students from New Buffalo and River Valley High Schools have outscored the opposition 138 to 28.  

 

Head Coach Matt Johnson said there are not as many inexperienced players as last year when the team lost its first two games before winning six of their last seven contests.

 

“It’s been a little bit easier to kind of start the season in what I would consider a little more full force,” he said.

 

Despite the impressive start this year, Johnson said the team still needs to be more consistent on executing plays with more competitive teams on the schedule coming up.

 

“We’re going to have to be more disciplined,” he said.

 

The Raiders were led on offense by quarterback Ethan Lijewski, who had 146 yards passing and ran for another 118 yards.  Lijewski also ran for three touchdowns and passed for two scores in the end zone.

 

Owen Slavens ran for 121 yards on five carries while Ryder Wolnik gained 90 yards on his four rushing plays. Wolnik also caught four passes for 81 yards while Payton Lijewski had four catches for 52 yards and one touchdown.

 

Johnson said having multiple weapons on offense is a major advantage because it doesn’t allow opponents to focus on stopping a single player.

 

“We got some guys that can move with the ball pretty well,” he said.  

 

The Raiders, while gaining close to 500 yards on offense, held Fennville to just 149 yards rushing on 43 carries and 28 yards passing on five attempts. Fennville also turned the ball over seven times.

 

The defense was led by Wolnik and Lijewski, who each recorded five solo tackles along with multiple assists and tackles for lost yardage. Defensive lineman Cam Forker had two solo tackles along with three assists and three tackles for lost yardage. Slavens had four solo tackles and two assists along with a sack and fumble recovery for a touchdown.

 

Johnson said the first major test for his team could be Friday, September 8th at Marcellus, a team he described as physical.

 

“We’re going to find out what we’re made of a little bit more,” he said.