GOOD HOPE, Ala. – The Raiders opened up the 2019 season on a muggy, humid Friday in James W. Shabel Stadium and after falling behind 2-0 early, Good Hope put up 28 unanswered points to put away Carbon Hill and start the season with a win.
After turning it over on downs in Bulldog territory on their first possession, the Raiders got behind 2-0 when running back Colton Bagwell was pulled down inside his own end zone with just over three minutes to play in the first quarter. Good Hope responded quickly and took a 6-2 lead after quarterback Tanner Malin connected with Drew Maddox down the home sideline for a 38-yard touchdown. The snap was mishandled on the extra point and the Raiders maintained a 4-point lead early in the game.
Malin extended the lead in the second quarter when he found Cole Maddox at the front pylon for a 24-yard touchdown strike and the 2-point conversion made it 14-2. Good Hope’s defense made things difficult for Carbon Hill all night but especially in the first half. The Raiders held the Bulldogs to just eight yards rushing in the first two quarters and 38 total yards to Good Hope’s 168. Carbon Hill also had trouble with the punting game throughout the night and Bagwell took advantage just before the half when he came off the edge and forced the punter to sprint to the sideline and turn the ball over on downs. On the very next play, Bagwell took it in from 21 yards out to make it a 21-2 game at the half.
The Raiders fumbled the ball on their opening possession of the third quarter, but the defense was there once again to hold the Bulldogs in check. Malin made Carbon Hill pay with his legs later in the quarter when he ran one in from 25 yards out to make it 28-2 and put the game out of reach for Good Hope. The Bulldogs had a great opportunity inside the Raiders’ 5-yard line early in the fourth quarter but back to back incomplete passes turned the ball over on downs and Good Hope began running some clock. Carbon Hill was able to punch one from a few yards out with just under two minutes to play but it was too little too late for the Bulldogs and the Raiders held on to win it 28-9.
After the game, Raiders Head Coach Alan Scott felt good about the information he got on his team tonight and wants to see more of what this group can do going forward.
“Coming into this week we had more questions than answers and we answered some things tonight which is good. We got a lot of guys in the game, I thought our guys rallied around each other really well, executed the game plan like we asked them to and got after Carbon Hill tonight,” Scott said. “They’re a well-coached team that plays hard and they’ve got a great group over there but overall, its just a great way to start the season for a team that’s trying to find its identity a little bit.”
Good Hope will try to repeat tonight’s performance and move to 2-0 when they host Priceville next week.
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