Raiders No. 5 Gray Peterson prepares for a snap against the Red Devils on Friday in the Battle for the Lantern.

 Jeffrey Westbrook/Times Virginian

The defending state champion Appomattox County High School Raiders continued their winning ways in their fall 2021 home opener Friday with a 37-20 win over neighbors Rustburg in the Battle for the Lantern. The game was significant for the boys from Appomattox for a number of reasons.

For starters, it marked beloved Coach Doug Smith’s return to the sideline of the Raiders’ home turf in a regular season game for the first time since 2019.

The Raiders accomplished their victory in spite of losing their four-year starting quarterback, Tre Lawing, on the opening kickoff with a shoulder injury. Backup quarterback sophomore Gray Peterson stepped in and coolly led the charge, throwing for 109 yards and running in three touchdowns himself.

The annual non-conference match-up between the Dogwood District Raiders and the Seminole District Red Devils is called the Battle for the Lantern (established Oct. 1, 1999), and Friday night marked the sixth straight time the Lantern Bowl trophy stays in Appomattox.

Read more of this story in the next issue of Times Virginian newspaper. Support local journalism by purchasing the issue at a local newsstand or subscribing at www.timesvirginian.com/subscriber_services to receive the print edition or view the full article in the e-edition version.