Thursday, October 23, 2008

Raider Gridders in Playoff Mode

After a 27-11 loss to the Notre Dame Hounds at home last Saturday, the YRHS Raider Gridders play those same Hounds tonight (THU) at Mosaic Stadium. Head Coach Roby Sharpe says today's their second chance, and after today, there are no second chances.

"I woke up, wide awake at about 3:00 this morning, just thinking about things we can do differently, and it's do or die. I told the guys, it's like poker, we've got all our chips on the table, and we've got the cards we've been dealt."

The Raiders have scored just 18 points in their last 2 games, and Sharpe says they've tinkered a little bit to try and get more points on the board.

"In High School football, you have to be able to run the football. We have a tailback in Riley Hackman who's one of the best in the league, and for us not to be able to run the ball, something's wrong. Obviously we have (Bennett) Reusch who throws the ball well too, but at this time of year, when it's getting colder, we have to run the ball, so we've worked a lot on our blocking schemes."

The Raiders have a good contingent of Grade 12s, and Sharpe says playoffs are always a sentimental time for them. It's their last kick at a championship, and it's their last game of their High School careers if they don't come out on top.

"Time goes by so fast. For some of these guys, they're in Grade 12, you remember when they were in Grade 9, and you think, 'where did the four years go?' Here you are in your playoffs game, we've coached them all year, we have our systems in place, we've just gotta go out there, give them both barrels and see what happens."

It's the Raiders and Hounds, 7:15 tonight at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

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Thursday Schedule

Regina Inter-Collegiate Football League
Playoffs @ Mosaic Stadium
3-A Quarter-finals
Miller Marauders vs Martin Monarchs 5:00
Yorkton Regional Raider Gridders vs Notre Dame Hounds 7:15

Saskatchewan Midget "AAA" Hockey League (4)
Tisdale Trojans @ Yorkton Harvest 8:00 FAA
Swift Current Legionnaires @ Moose Jaw Warriors 7:00
Battlefords Stars @ Beardy's Blackhawks 7:30
Saskatoon Contacts @ Prince Albert Mintos 7:30

MJHL
Neepawa Natives @ Winnipeg South Blues 7:30

Prairie Junior Hockey League (2)
Assiniboia Southern Rebels @ Cypress Cyclones 7:30
Tri-Town Thunder @ Saskatoon Quakers 7:45

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