ACGC has a new 1,000 yard rusher. Senior Ben Kingery reached the season mark in the final game of his career Friday night against Mount Ayr. Despite the milestone, the Chargers fell to the Raiders 43-14 to close the season.

The Raiders had the momentum from the opening kickoff when Hunter Haveman scored on the return. A two-point conversion off of a fake extra point try made it an 8-0 lead and the Raiders never looked back. Junior running back Keelan Klommhaus scored two touchdowns on the ground, while senior Isaac Grose and sophomore quarterback Payton Weehler tallied one each. Weehler also threw one to senior Nathan Hauge.

The Raiders took advantage of two Charger fumbles early in the game to keep the momentum on their side. Kingery scored the only two touchdowns for the Chargers, the last of which put him over 1,000 with 2:35 remaining. Kingery also added to his banner night with an interception. He finished the game with 159 yards on 30 carries. Senior Dylan Soper also grabbed an interception late in the game, the first of his career.

The Chargers end their third season at 3-6. Despite the third consecutive losing season for the gold and black, first year head coach Cody Matthewson feels this is the beginning of something special.

“Things aren’t always easy right away but we’re building a program and I just want to tell everybody that we are getting there. We are getting there and we are going to have success and it’s coming. The kids are starting to buy in. We’re starting to see that…I wouldn’t trade this place for anywhere else in the world and I don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon. This is my new home. These kids, they got me hooked and the parents and the community has got me hooked and I see a lot of great things coming for the future.”

To hear more from Matthewson, listen to Monday’s Wahl McAtee Tire and Service Center Guthrie County PM Sports Page, beginning at 6pm on True Country K107.9.