By Ryan Jones

Coach Dan Yeagley said the Raiders must learn to play 100 percent every game.

NORTH LIMA — On the heels of an uncharacteristic opening season loss, the South Range Raiders and put on a strong performance in their 28-7 victory over non-conference opponent Independence Friday night.

South Range coach Dan Yeagley said even though there’s no such thing as a good loss, his team learned something important.

“We must play with 100 percent effort for the entire game,” Yeagley said. “We started with a Saturday practice and we had better effort and attitude. Our seniors stepped up and we regrouped and refocused.”

Hunter Spitz capped off an eight-play, 65-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown plunge to give the Raiders (1-1) a 7-0 lead after their first possession of the game.

After South Range’s Jack Dawson broke up a third-and-9pass on the Blue Devils’ ensuing possession, the Raiders appeared to take control of the contest.

However, Independence faked the punt, and tailback Alex Gesicki took a direct snap and rumbled 32 yards to the South Range 1-yard line. Quarterback Sam Stretar scored on the next play to even the score, 7-7.

Yeagley said the fake punt caught his team off guard and stole a bit of the Raiders’ steam.

“That’s the type of thing we can’t have,” he said. “Those mental lapses, you just can’t have them because you never know when they will come back to haunt you. It’s been a point of emphasis this year, and it’s not been just one or a handful of guys on our team that’s made them.”

On the third play of Independence’s second possession, Dawson intercepted Stretar’s pass at Blue Devils’ 35-yard line and returned it to the 16.

Three plays later Steven Shimer bulled his was into the end zone from 2 yards giving the Raiders a 14-7 lead.

Yeagley said Dawson did a great job adjusting to his new position on defense.

“We moved him to a position where he can play in space and use his athletic ability,” Yeagley said. “He learned on the fly this week during practice. He had that big interception and broke up a pass on fourth down. He’s a leader and was all over the field tonight. Jack’s the type of kid that will do anything that’s asked of him for the team.”

Dawson wasn’t the only active player for the Raiders. Nick Golec, a 5-foot-6, 160-pound spark plug of a tailback, busted the game open when he returned a punt 45 yards 2:23 before halftime.

Golec, who totaled 51 yards on the ground and 70 in the return game, finished the scoring for South Range with a 15-yard touchdown scamper in the third quarter.

Yeagley said it was important for his team to show improvement.

“We’ve got Marlington next week and they are another solid team,” he said. “We need another solid week of practice heading into that game.”

Spitz led the Raiders with 82 yards rushing on 11 carries and Shimer carried eight times for 55 yards. Dawson went 3-for-7 for 71 yards in the air and had 39 yards on the ground.

Gesicki led the Blue Devils with 60 yards rushing. Stretar completed 8-of-16 for 58 yards and an interception.