JACKSON TWP — Seneca Valley's passing game gave the Raiders life to start the season Friday night.

Gabe Lawson threw for 201 yards and three touchdowns as the Raiders rolled in a non-conference matchup, 30-6 over McDowell at NexTier Stadium.

Seneca Valley coach Ron Butschle said the offense's efficiency in the air was a sign of growth.

“Gabe has made leaps and bounds of progress in terms of his maturity, his understanding of the offense and his reads,” Butschle said. “He did a great job with things like play fakes and threw the ball on the money.”

Lawson threw only four incomplete passes on 15 tries and threw two touchdown passes to Josh McLean and another to Luke Smith.

Lawson also scored on a 1-yard touchdown run.

Seneca Valley tight end Jake Stebbins caught three passes for 95 yards working the middle of the field.

“A lot of it was our offensive line. They blocked their butts off, and the wide receivers ran crisp routes,” Lawson said.

Lawson said he feels more comfortable leading the offense.

“The game slowed down a lot,” Lawson said. “It let me be coached up and know what my job is as a quarterback, not only knowing my reads and the offense but keep everyone confident and positive throughout the game.”

But the Raiders were not without their first-game jitters.

Despite holding a lead the entire game, the Raiders' offense was hit with 70 yards of penalties in the first half.

On a drive following an interception and 25-yard return by safety Conor Hayes, the Raiders squandered good field position on their opponent's 31 with three penalties for 45 yards, all within a couple plays of one another. One was for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Butschle said the second half was much better, but he acknowledged some anxiousness crept into his players early.

He said that was an explanation, not an excuse.

“We've got to clean those things up. That's not how we're taught and how we're coached,” Butschle said. “You have to maintain your composure. You'll lose ball games on those 15-yard penalties.”

Also overshadowed by the high-flying offense was the defensive performance. The Raiders held the Trojans to only one touchdown, a pass from McDowell quarterback Chris Juchno to receiver Mike Beneski, who played for Seneca Valley last year.

Butschle said the defense did a great job. He said the defensive players are experienced and still learning, and he expects more growth from them as the season continues.

“We have a solid group of veteran guys who play hard,” Butschle said. “Six points is a pretty good production for our defense. Our defensive staff and our kids put together a really great plan and executed.”

McDowell 6 0 0 0 — 6

Seneca Valley 9 7 7 7 — 30

First Quarter

SV — Josh McLean 45 pass from Gabe Lawson (kick failed), 8:40

SV — Seth Winters 37 field goal, 6:20

M — Mike Beneski 26 pass from Chris Juchno (kick failed), :55

Second Quarter

SV — Lawson 1 run (Winters kick), 8:27

Third Quarter

SV — McLean 16 pass from Lawson (Winters kick), 4:47

Fourth Quarter

SV — Luke Smith 21 pass from Lawson (Winters kick), 3:29

Individual Statistics

Rushing: McDowell, Chris Juchno 11-52, Dominic Ferraro 7-40, Damarion Rash 2011, Damon Beraducci 3-6. Seneca Valley, Gabe Lawson 9-25, Matt Stanger 16-29, Jake Mineweaser 4-20, Caden Smithco 1-6, Mitchell Curran 1-6, Luke Smith 2-(-3)

Passing: McDowell, Chris Juchno 14-29-132-1. Seneca Valley, Gabe Lawson 11-15-201-0, Caden Smithco 0-2-0-0.

Receiving: McDowell, Mike Beneski 4-45, Damon Beraducci 3-30, Dominic Ferraro 2-22, Caleb Mabins 3-18, Hunter Sorenson 1-10, Zack Edmiston. Seneca Valley, Jake Stebbins 3-95, Josh McLean 3-68, Luke SMith 2-37, Matt Stanger 4-15.