The Portland Raider freshman football team put the wraps on an incredibly successful season last night, as they beat the Mason Bulldogs, 42-19, in a cold and rainy Gridiron battle in Mason, Michigan.
The action got started right away in the first quarter as Barrett Brennan went 22 yards for a touchdown on the Raiders first possession of the game. The two-point conversion was denied by the Bulldogs but the Portland Raiders went up 6-0. The rest of the quarter was a trading of possessions as the rain began to fall and made the playing field more challenging for both teams.
The players adjusted in the second quarter and soon the action reignited at the typical 'furious' Raider freshman pace. With 11:52 left in the second quarter Evan Gross recovered a fumble giving Portland some momentum. This set up an Isaac Kramer 3-yard touchdown run. The conversion failed again and Portland was on the board 12 to 0. Mason was able to strike back with a touchdown of their own, on the resulting kickoff, making the score 12 to 6.
Their efforts did not slow the Portland Raider offense however, as Keaton McGregor responded with a 60 yard kickoff return directly afterwards. The conversion attempt again failed, regardless, Portland was now in the lead 18 to 6 in this contest with 9:50 left to go in the half. Soon after, Barrett Brennan added to the score with a 40-yard touchdown run and Evan Simon completed the efforts with a two-point conversion run across the goal line, to make the score 26 to 6 Portland. As Mason tried to fight back they were stopped by an Evan Gross interception killing their drive. The two teams traded possessions again a few times, but Raider QB Evan Gross was able to connect with Barrett "Big Train" Brennan on a 40-yard pass, setting up a 21-yard field goal by Cameron McConnell. With just seconds left on the clock the Raiders went into halftime leading the contest 29-6 over the Bulldogs of Mason.
The rain and cold intensified during the half-time warm ups and the field became increasingly difficult for both teams to navigate. As the third quarter began however, it didn't take the players long to overcome the fall-like conditions. The Bulldogs scored a touchdown on their first possession and the extra point kick was good, as Mason started to crawl back into this game,  now down just 13-29. The Raider offense was not to be outdone though, as Keaton McGregor lit up Mason's home field with a 60-yard touchdown. The extra point was missed, but the Raiders were now in full control of this contest by a score of 35-13 at 6:52 left in the third quarter. Resiliently, the Mason bulldogs were not deterred, as they bounced back with a quick touchdown, bringing the score within reach at 19-35 with 2:17 left in the third. The game began to become a battle of wills at this point in the oppressive weather. Barrett Brennan adamantly proved  he would not be thrown off his game by the cold rain, and with 1:04 left in the quarter,  ran 60 yards for a touchdown. The extra point was good and the Raiders went up 42 to 19 breaking this one wide open. Whatever hopes that the Mason Bulldogs had left in them was quickly destroyed when Caden Lockwood recovered a fumble on the following kickoff to the Bulldogs. It seemed to be a defeating blow to any of Mason's remaining hopes of  a victory, as the third quarter then ran out. The 4th quarter commenced as one of traded possessions. Mason tried to mount a comeback, as they forcefully charged up the field, but they were abruptly shut down once again by a Caden Lockwood interception and his resulting 30-yard scamper back into Raider territory. That play proved to be the final straw for the Mason bulldogs as they then surrendered the ball, and ultimately the contest, to the Portland Raiders, by a score of 42-19, Portland.
The Editor's Hard-Hit-Heroes for this week are Barrett Spitzley, Keaton McGregor and Isaac Kramer. A special Hard-Hit-Heroes award goes out this week to both the Raider offensive and defensive lines as they 'weathered the storm' against a formidable and sizable crew of very tough Mason Bulldog lineman.
To recap the season in general, the Raiders looked impressive in every aspect of the game, and closed out their year with a 8-1 record. Things ahead look bright, in Raider football country, as this group of freshman now look forward to their next season, in 2022.