The Racine Raiders (11-2) battled the defending North American Football League (NAFL) champion Indianapolis Tornados (9-3) in unseasonably cold weather at Mahone Middle School in Kenosha. The Raiders would advance to the third round of the NAFL playoffs by beating the Tornados 21-14 in a defensive battle.
The first quarter started with the two teams exchanging punts. With 5:01 left in the quarter, Raiders punter Tim Merchut fumbled the long snap from the center, giving the Tornados the ball deep in Raiders territory. Raiders defensive back Donald Woodard stopped the Tornados drive with an interception at the Raiders nine-yard line with 2:45 left in the first quarter.
Midway through the second quarter J.R. Taylor, who broke his leg earlier this season and was playing in his first game since July 11, ran the ball four yards for a touchdown giving the Raiders an early 7-0 lead.
Indianapolis responded with a drive that resulted in a touchdown run courtesy of Mike Perkins.
With the Raiders driving with less than a minute left to go before the half quarterback Ron Ricciardi was picked off deep in Tornados territory and the teams went into halftime tied at seven.
The second half started out with a bang. A little over a minute into the third quarter Ricciardi was intercepted by Tornados linebacker Anthony Weather who took the ball 40 yards for a touchdown, giving the Tornadoes their first lead of the night, 14-7.
Ten minutes later the Raiders tied the game when Curtis “Flash” Gordon caught a Ricciardi 16-yard touchdown pass over a leaping defender.
Raiders rookie defensive back Torie Ruffin, who is having an outstanding year, intercepted a Tornados pass and ran it 97 yards for a touchdown with six seconds remaining in the quarter, giving the Raiders a 21-14 lead.
With 9:42 left to play the Tornadoes went for it on fourth-and-five. Ruffin came up with another huge play deflecting the pass.
Woodard would come up with the final big play of the game, intercepting his second pass, this one in the end zone with just 36 seconds left to play, sealing the victory for the Racine Raiders.
The Raiders defense was dominant, limiting Indianapolis to 87 yards on the ground and 138 yards threw the air. They also intercepted the ball three times.
Ricciardi completed 14 of 24 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown. Justin Miles led all Raider receivers with 72 yards on five catches.
The Racine Raiders will host the Traverse City (Mich.) Wolves at Historic Horlick Field in the third round of the NAFL playoffs on October 17. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. This will likely be the final home game of the season for the Raiders.
The Wolves advanced by beating the London (Ont.) Silverbacks 20-7 on Saturday night in Traverse City. The Wolves and Raiders played at Historic Horlick Field on August 29 and the Raiders ran away with a 43-6 victory.
The Racine Raiders (11-2) battled the defending North American Football League (NAFL) champion Indianapolis Tornados (9-3) in unseasonably cold weather at Mahone Middle School in Kenosha. The Raiders would advance to the third round of the NAFL playoffs by beating the Tornados 21-14 in a defensive battle.
Indianapolis responded with a drive that resulted in a touchdown run courtesy of Mike Perkins. 
Ten minutes later the Raiders tied the game when Curtis “Flash” Gordon caught a Ricciardi 16-yard touchdown pass over a leaping defender. 
Woodard would come up with the final big play of the game, intercepting his second pass, this one in the end zone with just 36 seconds left to play, sealing the victory for the Racine Raiders.
