GDFL Game Day Preview:Raiders vs Tigers

Toledo, Ohio-The Racine Raiders (5-0; 4-0 GDFL) will go on their longest road trip of the season Saturday as they travel to Toledo, Ohio, to take on the Glass City Tigers (5-6; 4-4 PFA) of The Players Football Association. The kickoff is scheduled for 6 pm ET at Scott High School.

Glass City’s record is deceiving. Their eighth season has been their most challenging. All but one team on their schedule either won a national championship or an end-of-season bowl game a year ago making their schedule one of the toughest, if not the most difficult in the country this year. They beat the Flag City Phantoms and Cin City Buccaneers this year, two teams that the Raiders struggled with in either 2023 or 2024. They’re coming off of a 31-14 road loss to the Motor City Rams last week. The game was tied heading into halftime before the Rams took over. Despite their record, Glass City is getting recognition in various national polls.

The Raiders are coming off of a game that ended up being ruled a no contest against the Flag City Phantoms this past Saturday. Storms rolled into Racine during the halftime break and the game never resumed. League rules dictate that a play has to be run in the third quarter for a game to be official. A no contest ruling means the game was essentially a scrimmage and doesn’t count on either team’s record. The Raiders led Flag City, 21-13, when the game was called. All of Racine’s scores were touchdown passes from quarterback Sawyer Schick to wide receiver Will Norwood. The passes went for 19, 18, and 9 yards.

Glass City has a stout defense and likes to run the ball to control the clock despite often working out of a spread formation on offense. The Raiders defense, meanwhile, has been stellar against the run this season allowing just 2.4 yards per rush and no rushing touchdowns. The key to the game will be how well Glass City can establish their offense on the ground and whether they’re able to control the clock and limit the number of possessions for a high-powered Raiders offense. Special teams will be another area to watch as Corey Dalton had three punt or kick returns for over 40 yards last week to set up the three Racine scores.