JACKSON TWP — The Seneca Valley football team finished the first half on a good note.

But the tune played in the final two quarters was orchestrated by visiting Penn-Trafford.

Trailing the Raiders 18-14 at the start of the second half, Penn-Trafford proceeded to limit Seneca Valley to just 100 yards of offense in the final 24 minutes to claim a 27-18 win in the first game at newly christened NexTier Stadium.

SV had one last gasp, beginning a drive on its own 20-yard line with 3:03 left to play and needing two scores to win.

Quarterback Ted Pynos completed passes to senior wideout Kevin Mayberry for 35 and 38 yards that moved the ball to the Warriors' 10-yard line.

Pynos' jump ball in the right corner of the end zone was intercepted by Erik Rasky kill the Raiders' chances at victory.

It was the end to a frustrating second half for the Raiders offense.

"I think Penn-Trafford blitzed a lot more in the second half and we didn't respond well to it," said Seneca Valley coach Ron Butschle.

It was fitting Rasky sealed the win on defense with an interception. It was his arm that put the Warriors on top to start the second half.

On his team's second series of the third quarter, Rasky took the snap on his own 15-yard line and found that his younger brother, Chris, had gotten behind SV's defense. The result was an 85-yard scoring strike to put Penn-Trafford up 21-18.

The two had connected earlier in the game for a 46-yard bomb that tied the score at seven.

"That was the play that turned the momentum our way," said Warriors coach Art Tragesser of the 85-yard play. "Erik made his first start at quarterback last week (throwing three interceptions), but he played better tonight."

After a muffed kickoff, which the Warriors recovered on Seneca Valley's 10-yard line, the Raiders defense was aided by an offensive holding penalty and forced Penn-Trafford's Steve Huegel to boot a school-record tying 42-yard field goal to make it 24-18.

"We were disappointed that we didn't get a touchdown," Tragesser said. "A field goal is better than nothing, but I consider that series to be a victory for Seneca Valley."

If it was a lift for the Raiders, they were not able to build on it as SV's very next possession resulted in a three-and-out.

After Huegel's 31-yard field goal at the beginning of the fourth period, SV's next possession resulted in James Daniels' fumble that was recovered by Penn-Trafford defensive back Brian Mack at the Raiders 3.

It was Daniels who scored Seneca Valley's first two touchdowns on the ground — from two yards out to put the Raiders up 7-0 midway through the opening quarter and a 13-yarder that was followed by Shaine Patsilevas' run for two points that made it 15-14 in favor of the Raiders with 10:36 left in the first half.

Ryan Scheller kicked a 27-yard field goal to give the Raiders the 18-14 cushion at the break.

Daniels had 25 carries for 95 yards by halftime. But he carried the ball five times for minus-7 yards in the second half to finish with 88 yards on 30 attempts.

"We saw him on film from last week, and he's a good back," said Tragesser. "But our guys rose to the occasion and stopped him tonight in the second half."

Pynos completed nine of 15 passes for 213 yards, but also had two interceptions, one of which was tipped near the line of scrimmage and returned 40 yards for a touchdown by Penn-Trafford's Mike Brown to put the Warriors up 14-7 late in the first quarter.

Seneca Valley (1-1) will travel to Kiski Area next Friday.