In a heartbreaking 29-28 defeat, the Raiders football team lost its first game of the season to the Frenship Tigers Friday night.

The Raiders held a 21-17 advantage at halftime and a short touchdown run by JD Allen in the third quarter put the Raiders up 28-17.  However, Frenship struck back on a 12-yard pass from Tucker Tuberville to Chad Quisenberry to cut the deficit to 28-23 after a failed two-point conversion.  In the fourth quarter, QB Collin Bowen left the game with what was later confirmed as a broken collarbone.   Running back Tyler Junell also aggravated an ankle injury.  Senior Austin Castillo took over at quarterback, but had trouble with bad snaps and holding on to the football.  Castillo was charged with three fumbles, the last of which Frenship’s Kyle Rutherford took back for a 38-yard score to give the Tigers a 29-28 lead.

However, the Raiders got the ball back with over 5 minutes left and Castillo led a 12-play drive down the field to set up a 29-yard field goal attempt.  Senior kicker Brad Wilkerson’s kick sailed just feet to the right of the post and missed with :02 left in the game.

The loss gave Frenship a chance to win an outright district championship Friday.  The Raiders will face Hereford and already have their bi-district matchup set against Little Elm.

Bowen’s injury will likely sideline him for the rest of the season, leaving the offense in the hands of Castillo.