The Big Seven league has given us plenty of highlight football five weeks into the 2012 high school football season and it didn't disappoint again this past Friday as the Nemaha Valley Raiders played host to the Hiawatha Redhawks. Nemaha Valley had to come from behind but ultimately came out on top 27-21. 

Both teams entered the matchup 3-1 on the season, with Nemaha Valley having won their last three games and Hiawatha coming off a loss to Holton, but surprising people by their fast start to the season. The Redhawks weren't down to long from that loss to Holton as they took control of the game in Seneca with in 40 seconds of the contest. The Redhawks scored on a 52 yard receiver sweep by Denzel Chilcoat giving Hiawatha an early 7-0 lead. After a turnover on downs by the Raiders, Hiawatha got the ball in Raider territory and capitalized by moving down the field to punch it in the endzone courtesy of a 20 yard run by Parker Hasenkamp, who finished the game with 118 yards on 27 carries.

Hiawatha, led 14-0 in the first quarter and Nemaha Valley needed a response. The Raiders moved the ball down the field with senior runningback, Tanner Ranieri busting solid runs and quarterback Caleb Meyer tossing the ball. The Raiders ultimately put it in the endzone with an 18 yard touchdown reception by Justice McKernan from Meyer, the first of what would be three touchdown passes by Meyer on the night.

The Redhawks would look to respond again trying to the move the ball with all their playmakers, but they coughed it up twice fumbling the ball giving the ball back to Nemaha Valley. The Raiders looked for another score before the half down 14-6, but would be stopped on fourth and goal. Despite two first half turnovers the Redhawks led it at the half 14-6 in Seneca over Nemaha Valley.

Raiders, deferred in the first half, so they started with the ball in the second half and didn't disappoint their fans going down the field and Meyer threw his second touchdown of the game this one to his tight end, Creighton Brinker. But the Redhawks would answer the call themselves scoring again this time they went to the air with quarterback, Brad Chilcoat going to Denzel Chilcoat for a 10 yard touchdown pass. Brad Chilcoat finished the night 9-13 for 116 yards and touchdown, but also one costly mistake that being an interception which lead to the next score in the game.

Hiawatha working to milk the clock, had Brad Chilcoat drop back to pass and he was hit by Drew Steinlage who forced Chilcoat into an arid throw, right into the hands of awaiting defensive end, Creighton Brinker, who took it 44 yards to the endzone to bring the Raiders within two points, 21-19. The next drive it would be fumble number three and turnover number four by the Redhawks and the Raiders would score again two plays later as Meyer hooked up with Brinker for the second time on the day this time for 33 yards, giving Nemaha Valley their first lead of the game at 27-21 after a successful two-point conversion.

Still with time left, Hiawatha marched down the field and worked their way into Raider territory and then into the redzone. The Raiders managed to keep Hiawatha out of the endzone forcing a fourth and goal from the four yard line for the Redhawks with 6.9 seconds left in the ball game. Hiawatha called, the speedster Denzel Chilcoats number with the jet sweep and Nemaha Valley was ready stopping Chilcoat two yards shy of the endzone, to hold on for the comeback 27-21 win.

Plenty of players from both teams stood out stat wise as Brad Chilcoat tossed a TD and had 116 yards in the air; Denzel Chilcoat scored on the ground (52 yard run) and in the air (10 yard TD catch), he finished with 60 plus rushing yards and 70 plus yards receiving, while Hasenkamp was the workshorse with 27 carries and 118 yards and a TD in the loss. For the Raiders, junior quarterback, Meyer was 8-10 for 119 yards and three TD's, two of which went to his tight end, Creighton Brinker who had 60 plus yards receiving on four catches. Brinker, also scored on the interception return, giving him three TD's on the night and earning him the Community National Bank of Seneca and Sabetha "Player to Bank On" award for the game.

With the win the Raiders improve to 4-1 on the season and 4-0 in Big Seven league play, while Hiawatha is now 3-2 on the year with the loss. Hiawatha plays host to Santa Fe Trail next week, while Nemaha Valley will travel to Sabetha, and live coverage of the Bluejays and Raides county rivalry can be heard on KNZA 103.9 FM in the 3A District tune-up for both teams.