Raiders take what Crusaders give them

The host Orange Park Raider football team made a win difficult for themselves, but an opportunistic defense helped them to a 40-14 win against the Bishop Kenny Crusaders Friday night.

The Crusaders owned the air, with a passing attack that gobbled up 178 yards and two touchdowns, but the Raiders defense smothered the ground game and forced the visitors into many third and long situations. This need for yardage caused the Crusaders to gamble and lady luck didn’t smile in their direction too much Friday night.

Senior Raider linebacker, Caleb Barker, grabbed Orange Park’s first interception of the game with about one minute left in the first half. Sophomore free safety, Antonio Thomas, picked off another pass after the Raiders fumbled on the opening kickoff in the second half.

He returned the ball 36 yards to put the orange and black back on the attack. Shortly after an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown by senior strong safety, Jeremy Munn, was called back because of a pass interference penalty, the defense took advantage of another opportunity.

Senior defensive end, Ibrahim Issa, broke a 14-14 tie in the third quarter by rumbling 80 yards for a touchdown after the Crusaders coughed up the football during a reverse inside the Raider’s 20-yard line. Senior defensive end Delector Swanigan pounced on another Crusader fumble in the third quarter on the visitor’s 28-yard line. Quarterbacks wearing red and black were hounded all night by sophomore defensive end Demetre Baker, linebacker Darian Donaldson and Munn, strong safety.

The Raider offense wasn’t without its stars. Junior Raider running back, Paul Maple, pulled the Orange and Black even with the Crusaders at 7-7 after a 52-yard touchdown run on a sweep to the right. Maple ended up with 102 yards on 10 carries. Junior Raider quarterback, Kamron Fasnacht, scored twice on runs of one and three yards. Junior wide receiver, Kirhy Smith, may have gained 40 yards on the ground, officially, but there was more to his game than the official stats.

He had a 43-yard touchdown run called back on a holding penalty, but he displayed a stiff arm that could stop traffic on that run. He also spent 24 seconds, which is an eternity on the football field, running from one side of the field to another before being tackled for a loss of four yards.

He also caught three passes for 18 yards. Sophomores C.J. Stallworth, running back, and Travis Felder, wide receiver, we a part of the Raider’s touchdown production with runs of one yard and 10 yards, respectively. The Raiders will play Ridgeview next and the Crusaders will play Forrest.

Scoring by quarters

Bishop Kenny 7 7 0 0- 14

Orange Park 14 0 13 13- 40

Summary 1st Quarter BK- Whitmire 15-yard pass Crabtree (Carew kick)- 7-0 OP- Maple 52-yard run (Kupfer kick) 7-7 OP- Fasnacht 1-yard run (Kupfer kick) 7- 14

2nd Quarter BK- Whitmire 24-yard pass Rose (Carew kick) 14-14

3rd Quarter OP-Issa 80-yard fumble recovery (Kupfer kick) 14-21 OP- Fasnacht 3-yard run (kick failed) 14-27

4th Quarter OP- Stallworth 1-yard run (Kupfer kick) 14-34 OP- Felder 10-yard run (kick failed) 14-40

Orange Park Raiders First Downs- 20 (17 rushing, 2 passing, 1 by penalty) Rushing- 43- 277 yards Passing- 11 attempts, 5 completions, two interceptions, 26 total yards Punts- 2- 60 total yards Fumbles(lost)- 1 (1) Penalties- 8-75 yards Next game- Ridgeview

Bishop Kenny Crusaders First Downs- 10 (6 passing, 1 rushing, 3 by penalty) Rushing- 17-19 yards Passing- 21-15-2, 178 total yards Punts- 4-108 Fumbles- 4 (3) Penalties- 7-40