Raiders use fourth quarter to beat Blackhawks in first Coulee effort

The Arcadia High School football team secured its second win of the 2022 season in its first attempt at Coulee Conference play last Friday thanks to a strong finish.

Arcadia (2-1 overall, 1-0 Coulee) scored a pair of touchdowns, one on either side of the ball, in the fourth quarter to overtake host Viroqua 20-14.

The Raiders are scheduled to host West Salem (2-1, 1-0) this week. The Panthers are coming off of a 44-7 win over Westby. That win was West Salem’s first in the Coulee Conference since 2013 as they were moved to the Mississippi Valley Conference in 2014. They finished second in the MVC last season. 

Arcadia 20 Viroqua 14

Viroqua carried a 14-6 lead into the fourth quarter thanks to a 14-yard passing touchdown seven minutes into the game and another 22-yard pass in the second quarter from quarterback Benson McDowell.

After a scoreless third quarter, it was all Arcadia to close the game. Cam Boland secured a game-tying fumble and scampered 18 yards into the end zone with nine minutes remaining before the senior closed the scoring on a one-yard touchdown run with seven minutes left.

Arcadia’s defense forced Viroqua to punt the ball with four minutes left in the game and the Blackhawks never got it back. Boland passed to Devon Baier for a 26-yard completion on a third-and-11 play with about two minutes left. The Arcadia senior later added a 20-yard run as Arcadia ran out the rest of the clock. 

Three different players saw time at quarterback for Arcadia, none of whom were previous starter Egan Pauly, who did not play. Kaiden Rotering saw the most time for Arcadia, finishing 6-of-11 for 51 yards and a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Rotering that got the Raiders on the board in the first half.

Boland led the way in rushing, finishing with the score and 52 yards to go with a pair of catches for 17 yards receiving. Jordan Rotering paced Arcadia with 26 receiving yards and two catches.

The Raider defense allowed 100 rushing yards and 149 passing yards.

Arcadia—

Rushing (att./yds.)—Boland 17/52, Glenzinski 3/9, K. Rotering 8/-3.

Receiving (rec./yds.)—J. Rotering 2/26, Baier 2/21, Boland 2/17, Glenzinski 1/13.

Passing (comp./att./yds.)—Rotering 6/11/51, Boland 1/2/26, Aspenson 0/4/0.

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