By Jacob Mathias

Both teams traded scores all night long but the Wisconsin Rapids Red Raiders couldn’t pull ahead at the end of their matchup with the Oshkosh West Wildcats, taking their first loss of the season with a score of 23-26.

The Wildcats took a six point lead in the first quarter after a touchdown pass to #85, senior wide receiver Chance Proehl and a failed extra point attempt by #45, junior kicker Jesus Heredia.

A blocked punt by the Raiders led to a touchdown pass to #88, sophomore WR Isaiah Westfall. An extra point by #8, sophomore kicker Nathan Hepp brought raiders to a 7-6 lead with 11:56 remaining in the first half.

Another Wildcat TD pass to Proehl and a failed two-point conversion brought the score to 7-12 with 8:29 left in the half.

The Raiders recovered a few minutes later after #47, junior linebacker Rian Ott intercepted a Wildcat pass. A field goal by Hepp shortly thereafter brought the score to 10-12 at halftime.

The Raiders scored first in the second half with a TD pass to Westfall. A failed two-point conversion attempt brought the score to Raider led 16-12 with 5:27 left in the third quarter.

A TD pass to Wildcat #2, senior wide receiver Jon Korger and an extra point by Heredia brought the score to 16-19.

One score each by the Raiders and Wildcats brought Oshkosh the victory.

The Raiders record moves to 2-1. They travel to Hortonville on September 11 to take on the 2-1 Polar Bears at 7:00 PM.