By PIERCE GREENBERG
For Brentwood Home Page

It all came down to a few plays.

Even though Siegel defeated Ravenwood 21-7 on homecoming night at RHS, the Raptors' missed several key opportunities to narrow – or overturn – the gap.

"We missed opportunities and our offense just did not perform tonight," Raptors Coach Joe Rietveld said. "That's the bottom line."

"We had a good defensive game plan," Rietveld said. "We played as a unit and that's what we hang our hat on."The Ravenwood defense held strong and forced four turnovers, including a scoop-and-score fumble return by senior safety Vincent Swann that accounted for the Raptors' only score.

But Siegel was able to capitalize on key stretches. With 1:43 left in the first half, senior quarterback Treyton Harris bombed a 68-yard throw to wide receiver Tae Martin to put Siegel up 14-0 at halftime.

Earlier in the game, a special teams collapse helped Siegel put points on the board. Tyler Walton scrambled for a 60-yard punt return that eventually set up Siegel's first score – a 2-yard Denzel Harding touchdown run.

In the end, it was Ravenwood's ineffectiveness on offense that cost them the game. The Raptors turned the ball over five times, and couldn't muster any points.

In the fourth quarter, backup quarterback Harrison Johnson led the offense to the red zone after two straight completions to Jaylen McGriff set the Raptors up at the Stars' 14-yard line. But a mishandled snap pushed the Raptors backward – and on third-and-long Johnson forced a throw that was picked off by Martin near the goal line.

"I just pray to God that at some point it's our offense's night," Rietveld said. "I hope a week from now we can put a better football team on the field."

Ravenwood plays District 11-AAA opponent Franklin at home next week, and Rietveld is looking to forward to getting the losses behind them.

"Our train is moving forward and we're going to do the best we can," he said.