The lights turned on across the state of Kansas for the first time on Friday nights this past Friday (September 6th) to get the season underway and that is what the Nemaha Valley Raiders did, in get their season underway with a big performance winning 41-8 over McLouth at home.

Looking for revenge from last year's lost to McLouth in week one (32-6) the Raiders struck early and fast forcing a turnover on the Bulldogs second play of the game as senior, Justice McKernan snatched the junior Bulldog quarterback, Jack Courtney's pass. McKernan added another interception later in the first half.

With a short field due to the interception the Raiders offense to the field and junior tailback, Devin Henry burst on the scene quickly taking it to the house on the first Nemaha Valley offensive play going 46 yards on the ground for the score. The Raiders offense continued to capitalize on great field position in the first half with five of their six drives starting in McLouth territory.

The Raiders continued to roll, getting another interception, a blocked punt, a bad snap by McLouth on a punt and plenty of McLouth penalties and Nemaha Valley took advantage with two more Henry rushing touchdowns, a Caleb Meyer touchdown run and 40-yard rainbow touchdown pass from Meyer to McKernan in the first half. The Raiders worked out to a 34-0 lead at the half.

Scoring quieted down in the second half but the Raiders added another touchdown run by Devin Henry for his fourth score of the game on 12 carries for 115 yards. Henry's performance earned him Community National Bank "Player too Bank On" honors on the 92.1 KMZA broadcast.

Mclouth finally got on the board late in the contest with quarterback, Courtney tossing a 40-yard touchdown to wide out, Nic McAferty, the two-point conversion successful.

The Raiders defense shut down McLouth who was plagued by miscues all night in the loss, as they complied close to 50 yards in penalties, three turnovers (two interceptions and a fumble lost), a blocked punt and botched snap on a punt.

With the win the Raiders avenge last year's lost to McLouth and open the 2013 season 1-0, while McLouth starts the season 0-1 with the loss. Next Friday (September 13th), Nemaha Valley will host fellow Big Seven team, Royal Valley while McLouth will look for their first win of the season as they host Doniphan West.