By Jacob Heid

HUDSON — After playing a powerhouse in Kimberly week one, the Panthers hit the road for a week two match-up with the Hudson Raiders on Aug 25. Trying to bounce back from a week one loss, SPASH couldn’t do so after Hudson’s defense forced eight turnovers. Seven of them came in the first half, leading to a 38-7 loss.

The Panthers started the game on offense after the Raiders deferred to the second half. Sophomore Grant Chandonais trotted his offense on the field for SPASH’s first possession. On the first play, Chandonais rolled to his right and threw it right into the hands of Hudson’s cornerback, Ben Healy. 

The defense made a stop and gave the ball back to the offense. SPASH started its second drive on its 29-yard line. A couple of plays in, Chandonais threw a ball over the middle of the field that got snatched by the Raiders again. Healy was the Hudson defender, his second interception of the quarter. The Raiders would take advantage of the turnover and go up 7-0. 

The next offensive possession for the Panthers had some movement. But, it ended in a fumble recovered by Hudson at midfield, their third turnover in as many possessions, coming right after converting on fourth down. Hudson capitalized in just two plays, making it a 14-0 game. 

At the end of the first quarter, Hudson quarterback Rylan Schultz lofted a 34-yard touchdown that put the Raiders up 21-0. So far, SPASH had no answers. Chandonais came out for the start of the second quarter, and the Hudson defense struck for the fourth time, an interception taken by Healy, his third so far. A Raiders 42-yard gain through the air during the next possession turned into a rushing touchdown from the goal line. Hudson led SPASH 28-0. SPASH head coach Ryan Eigenberger sent junior Noah Marschke out on the field late in the second quarter to switch things up. The Raiders still had the Panthers’ number, forcing another interception. That would be SPASH’s fifth total turnover of the half; four of those were interceptions. 

The Raiders weren’t done yet. Hudson would turn SPASH over twice more before the half. With about four minutes left, Hudson forced Marschke into another interception that got taken to the house, making it 35-0 in favor of the home team. The Panthers ended the half by throwing their sixth interception and were down 35-0 after two quarters. SPASH coughed up the ball seven times in the first half, giving no opportunity for a scoring chance. 

SPASH’s offense got a break to start the second half, getting back on the field after a nice defensive stop. The first time back out on the field, the Panthers moved the ball nicely. SPASH had the ball in Radier territory but threw another pick. With a running clock, the second half flew by. SPASH finally got on the board late in the fourth quarter from a Chandonais 68-yard laser down the right sideline to Amon Konopacki.   

The Raiders let the rest of the clock run out for a 38-7 victory. Chandonais finished the night 10-15 with 161 yards passing and one touchdown. He also had four interceptions. Senior wide receiver Peyton Pumper led SPASH with 11 receptions and 98 yards.  SPASH falls to 0-2 on the season. The Panthers’ next game will be against Hortonville at Goerke Field on Sept 2.