Raiders stay perfect with homecoming blowout

Six games, six wins for the West Rusk High School Raiders, who cruised to a homecoming win Friday night and made the home fans happy.

The Raiders blew by Elkhart, 46-0, in the District 19-2A opener for both teams. And it wasn't close.

The Raiders (6-0, 1-0 in district) rolled up 513 yards of total offense, 494 of it on the ground. And on top of that, the Raiders allowed Elkhart just 132 yards of total offense.

WR tailback Daniel Thompson, who has had a phenomenal season, continued to do so, netting 264 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries. He also caught a pass for 19 yards for a score from Josh Medford, who threw only the one pass.

The Raiders fumbled the ball to the Elks early, but got it right back — and in convincing style — on an interception returned 55 yards for a score by Dominique Smith. The Raiders missed the extra point, but held the Elks to a threeand out on the next possession.

On the Raiders' ensuing first down, Thompson broke free for his first score of the night, a 72-yard touchdown run. Kicker Sam Arvizu got the extra point and WR led 13-0.

Elkhart helped West Rusk a bit by fumbling the ball back to the Raiders. Medford hooked up with Thompson for the only pass of the night, and Thompson scored on the 19- yarder.

Another Elkhart ineterception, this one caught by WR's Dewayne Fisher, sent the game to halftime.

In the third quarter, Thompson broke free on the first play after the kickoff with a 67-yard touchdown, complete with Arvizu extra point, and after forcing Elkhart to punt again, WR scored two plays later on a 45-yard run by big Josh Patin.

Elkhart finally made headway offensively, getting to the Raiders' 2-yard-line, but couldn't score.

The Raiders took over, and just a couple of plays later, it was — guess who? — Thompson again, going for 75 yards and another touchdown.

Patin scored the final tally of the game on an impressive 83- yard run in the fourth quarter. He finished with 132 yards and two touchdowns.

This Friday, the Raiders host Frankston.