Raider season stats highlight team’s success
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Front row: Tucker Larson, Conlee Stark, Evan Weehler, Nathan Mederos, Jaxson Greene, Tyler Still, Brock Shaha, Zechariah Ranker
Second row: Dylan Graham, Joe Mate, Xander Cornwell, Chris Wyant, Kaidon White, Matthew Mate, Tucker Knox, Tanner Streit
Third row: Tessa Kniep, Dylan Swank, Ethan Johns, Kash Wasteney, Dalton Barnes, Aidan Murphy, Keye Willis, Tate Dugan and Matt Larson
Fourth row: Aidan Albaugh, Kade Dugan, Ethan Main, Braydon Pierson, Jaixen Frost, Jaydon Knight, Klayton Yoder, Trey Fooken, Drew Ehlen, Riley Stark
Fifth row: Aidan Trujillo, Birk Willis, Preston Fleharty, Tyler Martin, Jaize Frost, Louden Main, Colton Dredge, Jackson Ruggles
Sixth row: Bracken Collier, Rowan Sackett, Ayden Miller, Xavier Bautista, Trevin Martin, Tate Schaefer, Garrett Walter
Seventh row: Coach Ryan Victor, Coach Colt Thompson, Coach Lucas Smith, Coach Andrew Nicholl, Coach Isaac Vos, Coach Jim Murphy
The Raider season ended with a record of 8-2, one game shy of a trip to the UNI-Dome at the University of Northern Iowa.
The Raiders fell to Lynnville-Sully, who would go on to beat the only other loss for the Raiders, in AHSTW.
The Mount Ayr Raiders enjoyed a larger program than in recent years, suiting up 53 student-athletes throughout the season, giving the Raiders a nice rotation when bumps and bruises came along.
The Raiders identity throughout their 10-game season, saw the Raiders rushing for just under 2,000 yards at 1,810 yards on 354 carries for 30 touchdowns, with a long of 48 yards.
The Raiders saw 11 different ball-carriers this year, with senior Braydon Pierson leading the charge, rushing for 780 yards on 134 carriers for a team-high 15 yards, along with the long of 48.
Under center, the Raiders were led by senior Jaixen Frost.
Frost completed 94 passes on 153 attempts for 1,425 yards, 15 touchdowns, while throwing just five picks.
Frost also picked up quite a few yards on the ground, rushing 69 times for 323 yards for four touchdowns.
Frost’s favorite receiver was fellow senior Jaydon Knight.
Knight caught 31 passes for 430 yards, six touchdowns and a long of 55 yards.
Frost also was able to find Pierson for 359 yards on 22 catches for two touchdowns, while senior Drew Ehlen caught 17 passes for 348 yards and five touchdowns.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Raiders collected 385.5 tackles, 18 sacks and 67 tackles-for-loss.
Leading all tacklers for the Raiders was Knight who collected 69 total tackles, 57 of which were solo, and two sacks, with 16.5 tackles-for-loss.
Sophomore Tyler Martin was second on the list with 39.5, 34 of which were solo, two sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss.
The defense collected 16 fumbles on the season, returning three for touchdowns.
Senior Kade Dugan led the way in fumbles, recovering three, while freshman Tate Dugan recovered two for two touchdowns.
The defensive backs stayed busy, collected 10 interceptions and returning two for touchdowns.
Pierson stole four interceptions on the year, returning one for a touchdown.
Special teams had a busy season, returning two kick returns for touchdowns, with Pierson leading the returners with 16 returns for 366 yards and one touchdown, while junior Preston Fleharty returned six for 120 yards and one touchdowns.
Pierson was the punt returner for Mount Ayr, returning 13 punts for 173 yards and one score.
The Raiders saw a few different kickers throughout the season, but Pierson, Knight and Frost handled the duties more often than not.
Pierson kicked off 27 times with one touchback and a total of 1,075 yards kicked.
Knight kicked 17 times for one touchback and 707 yards, while also seeing some field goal kicking.
Knight was 12-for-18, collecting 12 points for Mount Ayr on Points-After-Touchdown.
Frost kicked the ball away 13 times for 463 yards.
He attempted one field goal on the season, a miss, while also scoring 17 points on PATs, going 17-for-27.
Pierson handled punting duties for the Raiders as well, putning 23 times for 879 yards.
The Raiders graduate 10 seniors this season.
Graduating this year is Drew Ehlen, Trey Fooken, Riley Stark, Braydon Pierson, Jaixen Frost, Kade Dugan, Jaydon Knight, Aidan Albugh, Klayton Yoder James Shiflett and Ethan Main.
