ETOWAH, Ala. – The Good Hope Raiders made the trip to Etowah for a massive region game Friday night and found a way to come out on the winning side of a 20-19 thriller to improve to 5-2 on the season and remain unbeaten in region play.
The blue devils received the opening kickoff and they don’t take anytime to score on their opening drive giving the their first lead of the night 6-0 from a raiders blocked extra point.
The raiders couldn’t get the ball moving and had to punt right back to Etowah with momentum pushing the blue devils way they were able to drive down to the raiders 26 yard line but the Raiders’ defense shows up with a 4th and short stop giving the raiders back the ball on their own 26 yard line a couple of plays later Ethan Anderson runs one in from 60 yards out giving the raiders the lead 7-6 early in the second quarter. The Blue Devils gambled on a fourth and inches play but were stopped short by Good Hope and turned the ball over at their own 39-yard line.
The raiders were able to find the end zone four plays later when Tanner Malin ran it in from 9 yards out to stretch their lead 13-6. Still early in the second quarter, the Raiders and the Blue Devils each traded defensive stands, but Etowah was able to squeeze in one more to cut Good Hope’s lead to 13-12.
The Raiders went into the halftime break with the lead and received the ball to start the third quarter. An interception gave Etowah the ball on Good Hope’s 22-yard line, but the Raiders’ defense was able to pull off a stand at the goal line. The Raiders were still not able to get any offense going and were forced to punt from their own 29-yard line. The Blue Devils’ offense was able to quickly score and regain a 19-13 lead at the end of third quarter.
Good Hope ate up almost half the fourth quarter on their next possession and regained a 20-19 lead after a 1-yard touchdown run from Malin. It was the defenses turn to step up next and they did just that to secure a massive, 20-19 region win for the Raiders.
After the game, Head Coach Alan Scott was proud of the way his team fought on the road,
“I am so proud of our players for their effort tonight,” Scott said. “Etowah is a great football program and hadn’t lost a region game since 2016. Our guys believed in each other and played extremely hard. Our cheerleaders, band and fans were awesome! I love our coaches and this team.”
Good Hope improves to 5-2 with the win over Etowah and moves atop the Region 6 standings. The Raiders will be back home next week for another regional showdown against Fultondale.
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