On Cretin-Derham Hall’s second offensive play of the game, Callahan sailed a pass over the intended receiver and into the hands of Totino-Grace defensive back Christian Morel, who returned it 20 yards for a touchdown.

Just like that, less than a minute into the game, the Raiders trailed by a touchdown. But coach Brooks Bollinger wasn’t worried. He knows what he has in Callahan: A cool-headed leader who doesn’t look back.

“I didn’t have to worry about Danny,” Bollinger said. “He doesn’t flinch. We knew he was just going to keep showing up.”

The Raiders tied the game 7-7 on a 39-yard touchdown pass from Callahan to Chris Walsh, who took advantage of a Totino-Grace defensive miscue and was wide open down the right sideline.

Throughout the first half, both teams battled consistency. Callahan was picked off again when Udoibok slipped on a crossing route. Totino-Grace, meanwhile, struggled with injuries and inexperience and was forced to limit its playbook.

“We were just running all this vanilla stuff on offense,” Eagles’ coach Jeff Ferguson said. “But that was all we had left.”

Perhaps, but the Eagles had enough to retake the lead before halftime when quarterback Kristoff Kowalkowski threaded a pass to Patrick Doran on fourth down for a touchdown and a 14-7 lead.

Cretin-Derham Hall tied the score in the third quarter when Udoibok out-leaped two defenders for the ball and raced into the end zone for a 49-yard score.

Both teams sputtered thereafter, resulting in the extra session.

Totino-Grace scored first on a one-yard run by Gabe Vosen and an extra-point kick before Cretin-Derham Hall answered with the game-winning scores.

“It’s game one and we have a lot to learn, but it’s always fun to learn the lessons when you win,” Bollinger said. “When you get that 1-0 under your belt, it feels good.”

Despite the loss, Ferguson remained optimistic.

“It looked like a first game and that’s okay,” he said. “I’m care more about how we play in game 13 than in game one.”