(Three Oaks, MI) - The Red Arrow Raiders held on for another high school football victory in a thrilling offensive shootout undecided until there was no time left on the clock.

 

The Raiders (4-1) defeated Tri Unity Christian School 52-50 in a home game at River Valley High School on Friday, September 22nd.

 

The Raiders consists of players from New Buffalo and River Valley high schools.

 

There were two seconds left in the game when the Defenders threw a short pass knocked down by Owen Slavens in the endzone to seal the victory for the Raiders.

 

The score was 36-36 about midway through the fourth quarter, when both teams kept exchanging touchdowns.

 

“It was really cool final couple of minutes of the game,” said Raiders Head Coach Matt Johnson.

 

The Raiders were trailing with about 40 seconds left on the clock until quarterback Ethan Lijewski scored on a six-yard run before making a two-point conversation on a quarterback sneak.

 

After the kick-off, the Defenders began moving the ball again before winding up on the Raiders’ five-yard line on a 40-yard pass completion.

 

No time was left on the clock, but referees ruled that Tri Unity Christian called time out before time ran out and placed two seconds back on the clock.

 

On the final snap, Slavens, on a passing play, knocked the ball to the ground before it could reach the hands of the opposing receiver in the endzone.

 

On defense, the Raiders had trouble with the speed of the quarterback, who gained large chunks of yardage on runs as well as keeping the ball out of the hands of much taller receivers.

 

“We don’t have a lot of height so it was tough for us to cover those guys,” Johnson.

 

Both teams also kept exchanging leads in a high-scoring first half.

 

The Raiders struck first on a 19-yard touchdown run by Slavens but the Defenders came right back with a 49-yard touchdown pass.

 

Lijewski set up the next score for the Raiders by rushing for a 45-yard gain before M’Nason Smothers, following a 15 yard gain on a running play, took the ball on a hand-off seven yard run into the endzone.

 

The Raiders trailed 28-22 at halftime.

 

Lijewski completed seven of 14 passes for 90 yards while gaining another 278 yards on 31 carries.  Slavens ran the ball for 74 yards on six carries while Smothers, after a quick start, finished with 43 yards on 14 carries.

 

The defense was led by Vaughn Nikkel who had 11 solo tackles.  Nikkel also assisted with four other tackles, as well as four more for loss of yardage.