Raiders fall to Enda on homecoming night

The Rice Raiders were handed their first loss of the season on Friday, Sept. 18, at Veterans Memorial Stadium by the Edna Cowboys.

The Cowboys defeated the Raiders with a final score of 27-14, and it was also the Raiders’ homecoming night.

The game started as a defensive slugfest as the opening score did not come until the final minute of the first quarter. The Raiders got on the board first after Kor’Dae Johnson found Glenn Mills in the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown.

In the second quarter, Edna answered with a touchdown pass of their own to make the score 7-7. The tie held until halftime and coming out of the break; Enda broke the tie early in the third quarter.

Enda scored a two-yard rushing touchdown to increase their lead to 14-7, but the Raiders were ready with a response. Raiders quarterback Kyle Sims found an open DJ Amos for a 22-yard touchdown to even the score back up at 14-14.

In the fourth quarter, it was all Enda as they scored twice in the fourth quarter to come away with a 27-14 final score.

Defensively, the Raiders were led by Kedarian Prat, Trevor Powell and Draeden Amos as all three players recorded 11 tackles. Gabe Barrios also had a big night recording three tackles for loss.

Then Sims recorded the Raiders’ lone interception while also leading the offense as the quarterback. Sims completed six of 14 passes Friday night for 37 yards and a touchdown.

Leading the way on the ground was Ta’Rell Tarver, who carried the ball 19 times for 173 yards for the Raiders Friday night. Receiving wise DJ Amos caught three passes for 36 yards and a touchdown, and Mills caught two passes for 15 yards and a touchdown.

The Raiders will enjoy their bye week next week and will come back on Friday, Oct. 2, to host Boling at Veterans Memorial Stadium at Rice Consolidated High School.