The Mille Lacs Raiders opened its 2024 football season with a convincing 26-6 home win against the Greenway-Nashwauk-Keewatin (GNK) Titans on Aug. 30 at Burggraff field on the campus of Onamia High School.
The story of the game was a complete offensive and defensive performance from the entire Raiders squad, and some timely big plays made by some superior athletes.
Indeed. Although Mille Lacs quarterback, Sam Hebeisen completed just three of 14 pass attempts, several were game-breakers.
The first big pass play was a 40-yarder snagged by Isle senior Creedon Spengler during the Raiders opening drive, giving the Raiders a first down on the Titan seven-yard-line that led to the first score of the evening.
Another timely pass came in the second quarter when Hebeisen hit Spengler in stride on a post-pattern for a 38-yard touchdown to put the Raiders ahead 20-0 by halftime.
On defense, the D-line held the Titans to just 126 rushing yards and caused two fumbles that the Raiders recovered, and the D-backs stifled GMK receivers with three interceptions that killed three drives. Also, on defense, Isle junior Carter Adickes’ number was called often as he led the team in tackles from his position at linebacker.
Besides the brilliant play of Spengler, Isle sophomore Phillip Bober showed signs of being a solid running back, carrying the ball eight times for 53 yards, while Hebeisen’s speed and nifty jukes allowed him to lead all Raider rushers with 123 yards on 14 carries.
In all, the Raiders finished the game with a total of 304 total yards of offense, including 105 through the air and 199 on the ground.
GNK had a total of 234 total yards of offense, with 126 on the ground and 88 through the air. The shifty GNK quarterback Simeon Wells was 7-15 in passing, but was picked off three times.
GNK 0 0 6 0 6
Mille Lacs 14 6 6 0 26
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