It started out as a battle for homefield advantage throughout the Mid-States Football League (MSFL) playoffs. It ended with the Raiders (9-1 overall, 8-0 MSFL) drubbing the Chicago Mustangs (8-3, 6-2), 52-0, in Riverside, Ill.

The Raiders got on the board first on a one-yard touchdown pass from Craig McClelland to tight end Traves Worthington. The drive went 52 yards on 12 plays and gave the Raiders a 7-0 lead with 6:44 to play in the first quarter.

Mustangs kick returner Johnathan Finch let the Joel Dapra kickoff roll by him and into the endzone where Ross Toeller covered the ball to give Racine a 14-0 lead.

McClelland tossed his second touchdown pass of the game to Sam D'Alie in the second quarter. The 36-yard strike gave Racine a 21-0 lead with 7:15 to play in the half. The 7 play drive covered 79 yards in 4:27.

Dorian Palmer caught McClelland's third touchdown pass of the game with 5:52 to play in the half. The 34-yard pitch-and-catch gave the Raiders a 28-0 lead at the half.

The Raiders would score first in the second half following a fumble by Mustangs quarterback David Skowronski on a sack by Dameon McGee. McClelland hit Palmer from two yards out for his fourth touchdown of the game and Palmer's second to give Racine a 35-0 lead with 10:03 to play in the third quarter.

Torris Childs would give the Raiders a 42-0 lead on a six-yard touchdown run with 7:15 to play in the third quarter.

Dapra capped a 6-play, 37 yard drive with a 36-yard field goal to give the Raiders a 45-0 lead with 14:30 to play in the game.

Palmer would grab his third touchdown pass of the game just a couple minutes later, this time from Virgil McNeil, to give the Raiders the 52-0 victory and clinch homefield advantage throughout the MSFL playoffs.

McClelland and Palmer each broke the respective season touchdown records in the league in the game. Palmer has 14 touchdown grabs on the season and McClelland has thrown 32 touchdown passes.

Palmer led all receivers with five catches for 91 yards. D'Alie also had five grabs for 72 yards. McClelland completed 13 of 18 passes for 168 yards while J.R. Taylor ran the ball 9 times for 44 yards and Childs rushed 11 times for 40 yards.

The Raiders will get a bye in the first round of the MSFL playoffs and will host either the Monona Warriors, Lake Geneva Generals or Racine Threat on Saturday, September 22, 2012, at 7:00 p.m.

PHOTO CREDITS: Holly Barrett Photography