GOOD HOPE, Ala. – After last week’s game was canceled due to Covid-19 cases, the Good Hope Raiders were able to get back on the field Friday night to host a regional showdown with Ashville. The Raiders got it done in all three phases against the Bulldogs and picked up a 40-7 region win to improve to 1-1 on the season.
This cool night started great for Good Hope. The Raiders won the toss and deferred to the second half. Ashville receiving the opening kickoff and three plays into the Bulldogs’ opening drive, they fumbled the football in the endzone and Good Hope’s Taz Bartlett recovered it to score a touchdown and the Raiders took an early, 6-0 lead in the first quarter.
Good Hope’s defense forced Ashville to punt, and the Raiders got the ball back. 6 plays later, Ethan Anderson broke free for a 45-yard touchdown and the Raiders moved in front 13-0 going into the second quarter. Ashville got the ball back and held it for most of the second quarter, but the Raiders’ defense ended the drive with a blocked field goal attempt. The Raiders took advantage quickly and three plays later, Anderson got loose for a 54-yard touchdown, stretching the lead to 20-0 going into the halftime break.
With a 20-point lead at the start of the second half, Tanner Malin ran the opening kick of the third quarter all the way back for a touchdown to give the Raiders a 27-0 advantage. The Raiders’ defense left Ashville scoreless once again, giving the ball back to the dangerous Raiders offense and they found the endzone once again to bring their lead up to 34-0 late in the third. Ashville was finally able to get on the board in the fourth quarter, but Good Hope made up for it when Anderson ran in his third touchdown of the night to cap off a 40-7 region win for the Raiders.
After the game, Good Hope Head Coach Alan Scott was happy with the way his team came together and played a complete game against the Bulldogs.
“I was very proud of our effort tonight and the way we responded to the adversity we faced the first couple weeks of the season,” Scott said. “I felt as though we executed well in all three phases of the game. Hopefully this helps us as we prepare for the remainder of the season.”
The Raiders will be on the road next week to take on Haleyville.
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