PREP FOOTBALL: Raiders face Dutchmen

FULDA — In their first year of Southern Confederacy Conference play, the Fulda Raiders have had a tough start.

“We started slow this season,” FHS coach Greg Erdmann said. “We have started to figure out how to play 9-man football and have had some success in the middle of the season.”

The Raiders (2-3) fell to Cleveland and Westbrook-Walnut Grove in their first two games, but bounced back in Weeks 3 and 4 to defeat Southwestern United and Renville County West.

“We have been able to open up our passing game more lately,” Erdmann said. “We have three receivers who have been settling into their routes to get the pass game going. And that has allowed our running backs to run more effectively.”

FHS took a step back last week in a 54-16 loss to the Patriots of Hills-Beaver Creek. However, Erdmann was encouraged by what he saw from his team throughout the game despite the loss.

“I was happy with how we played Hills in the first half,” Erdmann said. “I was happy with how our defense played, too. They were a lot more aggressive than they have been, and it was nice to see.”

The Raiders will be in for more of the same this week when they host the Edgerton/Ellsworth Flying Dutchmen (5-1), whose only loss this season came against the very same Patriots team that defeated Fulda a week ago.

“We will have to stop a lot of things against them,” Erdmann said. “They have an impressive ground and air attack. And more than anything, their offensive line impressed me with how they can block well at the line and 35 yards down the field.”

If Fulda hopes to put a stop to E/E’s dominate offense, it is going to have to control the line of scrimmage.

“We have to control the run game; we can’t let them run the ball like they have been,” Erdmann said. “If we can make them alter their plays and change things up, we will have a better chance. We will also have to tackle well because they don’t go down easy, and they for sure don’t stop running at all. We have to take them down with multiple Fulda jerseys every time.”

On the offensive side of the ball, the Raiders need to establish their own running game in order to keep the Dutchmen honest on the pass.

“We have good speed at the running back position,” Erdmann said. “We also need to keep our special teams play up. We have been really good in that area lately because we’ve been able to use our speed and get some decent blocks.”

Fulda will put its undefeated home record on the line when the Flying Dutchmen of E/E come to town Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Daily Globe Reporter Jordan Willi

may be reached at 376-7335.

Tags: sports, prep, football, fulda, edgerton, ellsworth