SIDNEY – Sidney hosted Omaha Roncalli Catholic in the first round of the Class C-1 football playoffs at Weymouth Field on Friday afternoon. Once again, the top seeded Red Raiders’ defense set the tone for the game. After a first half that saw the Crimson Pride throw the ball 29 times for 168 yards, Sidney held Roncalli to just 37 total yards in the second half for a 30-7 win.

The Red Raiders tallied scores in all three phases of the game. Neither team scored in the first period, although Sidney did drive to the Roncalli nine yard line on their second possession of the game. But an interception in the end zone on fourth down ended the Red Raider threat. However, not for long. The first points of the game came when Sidney forced the Crimson Pride punt just as the second period began, the Landon Riddle returned 90 yards up the sideline to give Sidney a 7-0 lead.

Roncalli evened the game after a 34-yard punt pinned Sidney at their own two yard line. On the Red Raiders first play, quarterback Alek Doty was hit and fumbled the football into the end zone where it was recovered by the Crimson Pride to tie the game at 7-7.

Sidney’s next possession stalled at midfield after six play and the Red Raider were forced to punt. A poor punt of 17 yards set Roncalli up at their own 34 yard line. On the Crimson Pride’s second play, a pass bounced off of Roncalli receiver Nate Smith at the 47 and landed in the arms of Safety Alek Doty who returned it to the Crimson Pride 35. Five plays later Doty tight-roped the sideline for a 22-yard touchdown run to give Sidney a 13-7 lead at intermission.

The Red Raiders dominated the second half, forcing two Roncalli punts, intercepting another pass, and sacking Crimson Pride quarterback Brady McGill in the end zone for a safety. Sidney controlled the football for 20:00 of the second half including scoring drives of 4:32 and 7:24.

Alek Doty led the Red Raiders with 130 yards rushing on 20 carries and two touchdowns while completing 12 of his 21 passes for 120 yards, with one interception. Owen Gillham added 81 tough yards on the ground on 18 carries and a touchdown. In addition to Landon Riddle’s punt return for a touchdown, the senior receiver caught seven passes for 91 yards. Sidney finished with 331 yards of total offense. Quarterback Brady McGill was 18 of 43 for 186 yards and three interceptions. Roncalli finished with only 11 yards rushing for a total of 197 yards.

Sidney advances to the C-1 quarterfinals and will face Chadron at Weymouth Field at 4:00 p.m. next Friday night. The eighth-seeded Cardinals beat Lincoln Christian 42-18 to advance to next week quarterfinal.