Pirates plunder Raiders

Maddie Sims reporter@silsbee-bee.com The Silsbee Bee LUMBERTON — The Lumberton Raiders lost against the Vidor Pirates, Oct. 9. At the halfway point of the football season this year, the Raiders stand at 2-4 overall in terms of their box score and are placed seventh in the district. The loss was a tough defeat, the Raiders not going out without a fight. The game began with a strong momentum from the Raiders, with a great run from Raiders’ Trenton Garrett with a good play call that led to them advancing on the field, with Raiders’ Chase Wallace with the run up giving the team the first touchdown of the night, bouncing off two in the end zone for a good head start. Throughout the first quarter, there was a back and forth between both teams, with the Pirates looking for room in the center, but running into a blue wave from the Raider’s defense and the Raiders’ being sidestepped by the Pirates and reaching a near-tie touchdown score. But with two touchdown saving tackles from the Raiders, the near-tie in momentum would continue until the start of the second quarter where Raiders’ Nolan Mitchell tossed to Raiders’ Hatch for a heck of a catch and a touchdown that brought them back in the lead, along with another touchdown that brought the team to a six-point lead against the Pirates. However, the Pirates were able to swoop past the defense and make a touchdown saving tackle and make two consecutive touchdowns of their own. The Raiders had it, but the Pirates fought to take the momentum back, despite the early lead, and even with the Raiders fighting their way through the end zone, by halftime, the Pirates were up ahead, but just barely. In the second half of the game, the Pirates squeezed past the gaps through the Raiders, taking a heavier lead. They also changed a few elements in their strategy, which included using squib kicks for the Raiders to fumbling the handling of the ball. By the fourth quarter, the Raiders and the Pirates were fighting a back and forth to keep the momentum,but ultimately, the Pirates were able to gain the lead for the rest of the game with a final score of 63-34. Lumberton will face the Hargrave Falcons next on October 16 at the Huffman Hargrave High School at 7:30 p.m.