ATLANTA - Rocky Hidalgo got his first win as the head coach at Walton, even though the Raiders needed overtime to earn it.

Thanks largely to a blocked extra point in overtime, Walton beat Norcross, 28-27, in their season opener, the nightcap of Saturday's Corky Kell Classic at the Georgia Dome.

After Norcross opened the extra frame with a touchdown, the Raiders' Kyle Woestmann, who entered the game doubtful to play after he gashed his arm moving furniture during the offseason, blocked the point-after attempt by Blue Devils kicker Conner Hawk.

That held Norcross to a six-point lead.

When Walton got its shot at the end zone, quarterback Joey Windler led his team on a six-play drive that culminated with Windler's 2-yard dash for a touchdown. Kicker Zach Miller then added to the Raiders' feel-good story line by redeeming an earlier missed field goal with the game-winning extra point.

"That was just a chip shot," Miller said after the game. "That (field goal) was the one that I really wanted to make. That would have made this day the best, but that (extra point) right there is just what you have to do every day."

Windler made a strong first impression as the Raiders' starter with four touchdowns. He dedicated the victory to his dog, Summer, who passed away last week.

"I just thank my coach for letting me score that last touchdown and all the others," said Windler, who wore his beloved golden retriever's dog tag in his pants. "I really think that blocked field goal was her."

Windler, a senior who split time under center with Bradley Kilborn, made the most of his opportunities, running for three first-half touchdowns. He finished the night with 142 yards on 26 carries and was 5-for-5 passing for 22 yards.

The Raiders didn't throw their first pass of the game until 5:28 was left in the first half. When they did, Windler was effective with a 10-yard pass to Braylon Williams for a first down.

Walton's special teams opened the game on a high note, forcing a fumble on the opening kickoff as Orin Whittaker recovered the ball on the Norcross 14-yard line.

It didn't take long for the Raiders to put the ball in the end zone - despite being issued a 10-yard penalty for a false start - as Windler rushed the ball three times before scoring from 4 yards out. Tim Russeler tacked on the extra point for a 7-0 Raider lead less than a minute into the game.

Norcross responded on its next possession, showcasing a new quarterback of its own. Receiving the kick on their own 37, the Blue Devils strung together five plays, ending with a 9-yard pass from Ronald Rose to Geremy Davis in the corner of the end zone. Hawk's point after knotted the score, 7-all.

Rose, a junior, used his arm rather than his feet on the drive, completing two passes to Davis for a total of 47 yards.

Walton made two more scores in the second quarter, both coming on the legs of Windler, from 4 four and 7 yards out, respectively, to solidify a 21-7 lead with less than a minute left in the first half.

That minute, however, was enough for the Blue Devils to add a touchdown thanks to another strong series by Rose and Davis, which included a 31-yard touchdown pass with 5 seconds left.

Neither team scored in the third quarter and Norcross was able to tie the game at 21-all on its first drive of the fourth.

Domonique Mason made his first catch of the game for the Blue Devils, netting 27 yards. Two plays later, Rose's pass met Mason in the end zone for six points.

Andrew Lipsey may have saved the day for the Raiders with an interception of a pass intended for Davis on the Walton 2 with just 13 seconds left in the game.

Kyle Vorster was also a major force for the Raiders, carrying the ball 21 times for 141 yards.

Hidalgo said it felt good to get the win, even if he had to sweat it out a bit.

"I don't want to go through any more like that this year," he said. "It was tough out there. We just kind of found a way to win it. If we do that 14 more times, I'll be happy with the season."