"They are more multiple now," was Rider coach Scott Ponder's polite way of saying it.

They are also 0-3 coming into tonight's 7:30 kickoff against the Raiders at Memorial Stadium.
Still, Thrasher and Shivers have combined for 341 rushing yards for Plainview this year.

That"s 191 more than Rider's Damien Washington and Jurell Thompson have run for.

"We haven't run the ball as well I wanted, but that will improve," Ponder said. "By the end of the season, we will be better."

Most of the Raiders' offense has been quarterback Shavodrick Beavers throwing the ball.

The junior quarterback has thrown for 754 yards and eight touchdowns with Eric Ward latching onto 12 of those for 337 yards and four TDs and Chris Edmond catching 13 for 168 yards and another four scores. Washington has 10 catches for 141 yards.

After Jason Miller took Plainview on a touchdown drive to tie Dumas late in the season opener, the sophomore has taken over at quarterback. He threw for 216 yards and a couple of touchdowns last week.

Ponder admits his "kids were pretty down" after a tough loss at home against No. 3 Stephenville last Saturday night - the Raiders' first setback in three games.

But he has stressed that it is time to "shift gears" and get focused for the Bulldogs.

"It has been a work in progress," he said.

Last season the Rider coaches had the task of getting the Raiders pumped for Plainview after they got off to an 0-3 start.

They responded with a 43-29 road win - the first of nine victories in 2006.

Plainview also had nine wins last season, going 9-4. The Bulldogs finished second behind Frenship in District 4-4A and lost to Aledo in the third round of the Division I playoffs.

Only two offensive and four defensive starters are back from that team.

Sports Editor Nick Gholson can be reached before 4 p.m. weekdays by calling (940) 720-3447 or 1-800-626-1646 (ext. 447). Or you can e-mail him at gholson(at)timesrecordnews.com.