Longhorns lose heartbreaker to Sidney Red Raiders 14-21

    Friday night football was a thriller at Longhorn Stadium when the Sidney Red Raiders came to town with a top 10 ranking in class C-1. Chase County gave them all they could handle but came up just short.
    It was a rough start to the game after receiving the opening kick. The Longhorns took over on the 25 yard line and on the first snap of the ball, Sidney’s Luke Holly pounced on a fumble at Chase County’s 16 yard line.
    On the first play from scrimmage for Sidney, Isak Doty handed the ball to Luke Holly around the right side who went all the way for a touchdown. The extra point was good giving the Red Raiders an early 7-0 lead.
    Chase County was stopped on the next possession but a great punt by Cooper Dillan flipped the field and backed Sidney deep in their own territory.
    Doty rolled out to pass around the right end where Tristan Jablonski stepped in front of the ball and returned it 25 yards for the Longhorns first touchdown. The kick by James McArthur was good tying the game at seven each.
    Both teams had troubles keeping possession of the ball. Sidney had two fumbles and three interceptions while the Longhorns lost three fumbles and one pic.
    Toward the end of the first quarter Isak Doty intercepted a pass in the end zone and decided to run it out. The Longhorns corralled him to the middle of the field and forced a fumble recovered around the 16 yard line by the Horns.
    Luis Co ran to the right side of the end zone and made a spectacular toe dragging catch for Chase County’s second score. The kick by McArthur made it a 14-7 lead for the Longhorns.
    In the second quarter, Doty showed his speed bursting up the middle and cutting to the right sideline, out running everyone to the end zone. The extra point kick was no good leaving the lead with the Longhorns 14-13.
    Both teams had chances to blow the scoring open in the third and fourth quarter but seemed to shoot themselves in the foot by mishandling the ball.
    On the Red Raiders final drive of the night, the Horns stood strong after Sidney got down to a first and goal. After stuffing the first attempt, Doty was sacked back at the nine yard line.
    Jaret Peterson busted threw the line and had a hold of the jersey of Doty on the next play but Doty somehow managed to keep his feet and throw a perfect strike to the freshman Alek Doty in the end zone for a touchdown.
    Sidney went for two, completing a pass to Landon Riddle giving the Red Raiders a 21-14 lead with just 10 seconds on the clock.
    The Longhorns threw the hail marry ball but it fell incomplete to give Sidney the win.
Next action
    On Friday, Sept. 8 the Longhorn football team will travel to Amherst for a 6 p.m. MT start. Amherst will enter the game with a 1-1 record, beating Wood River 56-21 and losing to Hastings St. Cecelia 6-19.