Raider defense shuts out Manson

The Lake Roosevelt Raiders continue to win in football, shutting out Manson on the road on Friday with a 28-0 victory.

LR is ranked ninth in the state for 2B schools according to an Associated Press poll released prior to the victory.

The Raiders put their first points on the board in the second quarter when Hunter Whitelaw threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Sam Wapato.

That was followed by a fumble return for a touchdown by Devon Hobrecht.

Whitelaw threw another touchdown pass, this time to Tyson Nicholson, and a two-point conversion put the Raiders up 20-0 at the end of the half.

Another Whitelaw-to-Nicholson touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, with another two-point conversion, closed the game at 28-0.

Whitelaw threw for 167 yards in the game and rushed for 59 of the Raiders’ 136 rushing yards.

Bobcat Flowers led the Raider defense with 10 tackles, followed by Cameron St. Pierre, who had eight.

The Raiders running game and passing game were about even.

“We executed really, really well,” Coach Tim Rasmussen said. “We used the run to set up the pass. One of the challenges is we have athletes all over the field, and it’s difficult for defenses to key in on an individual. I felt like Coach (Bubba) Egbert did a great job at putting kids in position and calling plays, putting kids in spots. They went out and excelled at a great level. We had an outstanding game.”

That outstanding game was defensive as well, with the Raiders not allowing any points from the Trojans.

Defensive Coordinator Coach Jess Cavender had a good game plan, Rasmussen said. “He understood what (the Trojans) were trying to accomplish. They had a really big running back, and a speed guy they like to get through there. … We went out there and executed.”

Rasmussen said the coaches have emphasized defense as “what separates you from being a good football team and a great football team, and the players understand that.”

The Raiders are 2-0 in the Central Washington 2B League, 3-0 overall, the same record as Tonasket, whom they play later in the season.

The Raiders next game is at home this Friday at 7 p.m. when they host White Swan.