CLC News The news and events from Central Lakes College
The Raiders are chasing history in becoming the first team in school history to become 11-0. Last year they fell short of making it to the State Championship game. This year the Raiders punched their ticket to the State Championship game Sunday, Nov. 6 at St. Cloud State University. They will face North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS), the team that defeated CLC last year.
Saturday’s game against Ridgewater was very intense — the closest game for CLC all year. Previously, most of the Raiders’ wins come from 20-, 30-, and 40-point blowouts, with the exception of the two games versus Ridgewater. In both games, the Raiders won by single digits. Saturday’s game was tied at half, but once the third quarter hit, CLC took off from there. They scored 17 of their 24 points in the second half.
Wide Receiver Mustaful Strong came up big Saturday, as he always does, for the Raiders. When I asked Strong about how he felt with the game tied at half, he said, “Things were moving slow for our offense, but our defense was playing amazing like always.”
In a defensive game with half of the battle being field position, Strong had some big kick/punt returns in addition to the Raiders lone touchdown of the first half. His only reception of the day was a 30-yard touchdown pass from Mike Tveltbakk.
The Raiders took a big blow when leading rusher Teddy Sherva went down in the first half from a hamstring injury. Greg Lewis picked up the slack in the second half. He rushed for 89 yards on 21 carries. Sherva’s injury seemed to fuel the Raiders second half.
An early field goal by Antoine Akundu, followed by and a Lewis 2-yard touchdown run, gave the Raiders a 17-7 lead early in the fourth quarter. Ridgewater would not be denied, as they kept fighting and making progress toward a comeback. Kyree Mclean sealed the deal with 27-yard pick six to the house. As Mclean kneeled in the end zone, the fans erupted.
WE’RE GOING TO STATE!!!
