Raiders Roll Past Eagles 56-20 in Week 1 Statement Win

Airdrie, AB — August 22 — The Airdrie Raiders opened their CBFA season in dominant fashion, defeating the Foothills Eagles 56-20 in a game that showcased the offense's explosiveness from the opening drive to the final whistle.

*Note: Due to a footage issue, exact yardage totals for this game are unavailable. Below is a breakdown based on the stats we were able to confirm.*

Fast Start, Never Looked Back

The Raiders came out firing, taking a 14-0 lead after the first quarter. Quarterback Hudson MacLeod set the tone immediately, punching in a rushing touchdown before connecting with Dylan Bardick for a touchdown pass and two-point conversion.

Foothills answered in the second quarter to make it a game, cutting the deficit and trading scores with the Raiders through the period. But Airdrie's offense kept finding the end zone — Brady Wladyka hauled in a touchdown pass from MacLeod, and MacLeod added his second rushing score of the day, pushing the lead to 28-8 at the half.

The third quarter belonged to the Raiders' aerial attack, as MacLeod found Liam Fernandez for another touchdown, extending the lead to 36-14.

Airdrie put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter, tacking on 20 more points. MacLeod capped his rushing day with a third touchdown on the ground, then found Ethan Nartey Manortey through the air for his fourth passing touchdown of the game. Manortey punctuated the win with a 75-yard kickoff return for a touchdown — an exclamation point on a complete team effort.

MacLeod turned in one of the most complete performances of the young season, accounting for **seven total touchdowns**:

• 4 rushing touchdowns on the ground
• 4 passing touchdowns through the air (8-of-14 passing)

His ability to beat defenses both with his legs and his arm made him nearly impossible to contain, and it earned him well-deserved **Wolfe Player of the Game** honors.

Around the Stat Sheet

• Receiving touchdowns:
• Brady Wladyka, Dylan Bardick, Liam Fernandez, and Ethan Nartey Manortey each hauled in a touchdown catch from MacLeod
• Special teams:
• Manortey added a 75-yard kickoff return touchdown
• Defense:
• Malachi Mpinga led the way with 6 tackles, 2 sacks, and 3 tackles for loss; Tobin Thompson added 6 tackles and a 26-yard punt return
• Turnovers:
• The Raiders forced 2 turnovers on defense while committing 3 of their own
• Total plays:
• Raiders 36, Eagles 32

Looking Ahead

A 56-20 win to open the season sends a clear message around the league. With MacLeod's dual-threat ability leading the charge and playmakers stepping up across the roster, the Raiders will look to carry this momentum into Week 2 against the Mavericks

Go Raiders!