The Racine Raiders, winners of the North American Football League Great Lakes Division in 2007, are bringing tough competition from across the upper Midwest to Historic Horlick Field in 2008. The Raiders will play home games against the Detroit (Mich.) Seminoles, four-time National Champions, and the Kane County (Ill.) Eagles, five-time National Champions. They will also travel to Mooseheart, Illinois, to play the Eagles at Illinois Memorial Stadium. The Eagles won six straight road games in the North American Football League (NAFL) playoffs to claim the 2007 NAFL National Championship.

The Raiders start out the season with two nonleague games. They open the season on June 28, against the Rochester (Minn.) Giants at Historic Horlick Field. The Giants were founded in 2003 and have won every Great Plains Football League Championship between 2003 and 2007.

The Detroit Seminoles, a long-time nemesis of the Raiders when both teams were in the regional Mid-Continental Football League (MCFL), visit Historic Horlick Field on July 5. The Seminoles were the 2008 MCFL runners-up, losing to the eventual 2007 USA Bowl Champions, the Detroit Black Ravens. The Seminoles last visited Racine in 2006 to play in the USFA Midwest Football Tournament Championship, which Racine narrowly won 27-22.

The Raiders NAFL season begins on July 12 against the Milwaukee Marauders at Historic Horlick Field. After beating the Raiders in two of three games in 2006, the Marauders fell to the Raiders 42-14 in Racine and 34-26 at Hart Park in Wauwatosa in 2007.

The Raiders hit the road for two weeks beginning July 19 when they travel to play the St. Paul (Minn.) Pioneers. The Pioneers and Raiders have played every year since 2004 and have a traveling trophy that stays with the winner each year. The Raiders had won each year until 2007, when the Pioneers overcame a halftime deficit and beat the Raiders 21-10. The Pioneers just missed the NAFL playoffs in 2007.

The Raiders then travel to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on July 26 to play the Cedar Valley Vikings in the UNI-Dome on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa. The Vikings made it to the quarter-finals of the NAFL2 playoffs in 2007 before losing to the eventual champions, the London (Ontario, Canada) Silverbacks.

The Raiders return to Historic Horlick Field on August 2 to play the Wisconsin Wolfpack. The Wolfpack are the result of a merger between the Wisconsin Bulldogs of the NAFL and the Franklin Outlaws, champions of the Ironman Football League in 2007. Former Raiders’ head coach Jordan Kopac is now the defensive coordinator for the Wolfpack and former Raiders’ offensive coordinator Jerry Kupper is the running backs coach. Denny Galipo, who played for the Raiders for 15 years, is also an assistant coach with the Wolfpack.

The Raiders travel south to Mooseheart, Illinois, to battle the 2007 NAFL National Champions, the Kane County Eagles, on August 9. The Raiders defeated the Eagles in the last week of the regular season in 2007 to steal the Great Lakes Division title. The Eagles, however, got revenge by knocking the Raiders out of the NAFL playoffs in the first round the following week.

The St. Paul Pioneers make a visit to Historic Horlick Field on August 16. The Raiders then play the Milwaukee Marauders at Hart Park in Wauwatosa on August 23 before the league-mandated Labor Day bye on August 30. The Cedar Valley Vikings come to Historic Horlick Field on September 6 and then the Raiders will play a road game against the Wolfpack on September 13. The NAFL regular season ends on September 20 as the Kane County Eagles fly into Historic Horlick Field.

The league has an open week in the schedule on September 27 to allow teams to plan travel arrangements for the playoffs, which begin on October 4.

All Raiders’ home games are played at Historic Horlick Field, 1648 North Memorial Drive, in Racine, Wisconsin. All home games begin at 7:00 p.m. Ticket prices and season ticket information will be released soon. Fans are encouraged to visit the Racine Raiders website at http://www.racineraiders.com for the most up-to-date information on the team.

June 28 - ROCHESTER GIANTS
July 5 - DETROIT SEMINOLES
July 12 - MILWAUKEE MARAUDERS
July 19 - @ St. Paul Pioneers
July 26 - @ Cedar Valley Vikings
August 2 - WISCONSIN BULLDOGS
August 9 - @ Kane County Eagles
August 16 - ST. PAUL PIONEERS
August 23 - @ Milwaukee Marauders
August 30 - Labor Day Bye Week
September 6 - CEDAR VALLEY VIKINGS
September 13 - @ Wisconsin Bulldogs
September 20 - KANE COUNTY EAGLES
September 27 - Playoff Bye Week
October 4 - NAFL Playoffs Begin

Photo by John Staats

The Milwaukee Bonecrushers, a first-year entry into the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL), mustered only 193 yards of total offense last Friday night in a 64-41 loss to the Chicago Slaughter. The most amazing thing might be that three former Racine Raiders accounted for 161, or 83%, of those yards.

Wide receiver Dorian Palmer, who led the Raiders in receptions, yards receiving, and touchdowns in 2007, had five catches for 69 yards and four touchdowns.

Reggie Davis, who played for the Raiders in the early-2000s, added two catched for 54 yards and a TD, while Brian Sylvas, a linebacker for the Raiders in 2006 and 2007, rushed rushed for 15 yards and had two catches for 24 yards in his new role as a running back.

Defensive players also made an impact. Defensive back Rick Hutchins, who joined the Raiders midway through the 2007 season, had five tackles and an interception. Defensive lineman Marcus Fletcher added two tackles.

Several other Raiders suited up for the game but stats weren’t immediately available for them.

The Bonecrushers play another home game at the U.S. Cellular Arena this Saturday, March 29, 2008, at 7:30 p.m. against the Muskegon Thunder (1-1).

Nine current or former Racine Raiders were signed to contracts with teams in the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) this offseason. One player was signed to a contract by the Chicago Slaughter and eight were signed by the Milwaukee Bonecrushers, a first-year team in the CIFL.The players that were signed to contracts that played with the Raiders in 2007 are linebackers Jamie Isome and Brian Sylvas, wide receiver Dorian Palmer, defensive backs Brett Barnes and Rick Hutchins, and linemen Dan Morjal, Marcus Fletcher, and Scott Tyrcha. Barnes is a second-year player with the Slaughter. Sylvas, while a linebacker for the Raiders, will play running back for the Bonecrushers.

“Its an honor and a privilege to make the professional indoor team, the Milwaukee Bonecrushers,” said Isome. “I have been blessed in my life and this is just another blessing that has been given to me.”

Reggie Davis, a wide receiver that played with the Raiders in the early part of this decade, also made the Bonecrushers roster.

Isome and Sylvas were part of one of the best linebacker trios in all of minor league football in 2007. Palmer would’ve set several Raiders’ receiving records had he not sat out 1-1/2 games due to injury. Barnes and Hutchins combined with defensive backs Kevin Barrett and Eric Feest to shut down teams’ passing attacks. Morjal and Tyrcha demonstrated their ability to play on both sides of the ball throughout the season and Fletcher was an immovable force in the middle of the defensive line.

CIFL teams are limited to 31 players on their roster. They play 7-on-7 football on a 50-yard field similar to the Arena Football League (AFL). The Bonecrushers open their inaugural season Friday night at 7:00 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee against the Chicago Slaughter (0-1). Individuals interested in attending the game can visit http://www.mkebonecrushers.com for ticket information.

The Racine Raiders will hold their last tryout on April 12, 2008, from noon to 3:00 p.m. at the J.I. Case High School fieldhouse in Racine, Wisconsin.

Players should wear indoor workout clothing. This tryout is for all positions and is free.

Participants will take part in speed, shuttle, agility, and vertical drills. In addition, participants will be split up by position and participate in fundamental position drills.

J.I. Case High School, 7345 Washington Avenue, is conveniently located off of Highway 20 in Racine. (MAP)

Please fill out a player tryout form and we will add you to our email distribution list. You can also look for more information on 2008 Racine Raiders tryouts on our website, via MySpace bulletins, or by visiting our Facebook group.

Recruiting specific information is available on our unique Play For The Raiders website.

The Racine Raiders have over a dozen players in camps with various indoor football teams at this time. In addition, the North American Football League (NAFL) just announced a partnership with The Scouting Bureau where players on NAFL member teams could have the opportunity to attend the 2009 NFL Combine!