Cardinals stopped dead in their tracks

[caption id="attachment_13041" align="alignleft" width="270"] GHV’s Gabe Umbarger brings down a Charles City running back in Friday night’s showdown. Lending the assist is Anthony Sherwood. Also pictured is Connor Smith (55). -Reporter photo by Chris Barragy[/caption]

The Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Cardinals (4-1, 2-0), came out flat and stayed that way against non-conference foe, Charles City (3-3), (0-2). GHV was plagued throughout Friday’s game by mental breakdowns that proved too great to overcome.

The Cards received the kickoff, but the run plays that followed were snuffed out immediately. A monster pick up and some hope came on a Lucas Prohaska pass to Ty Marth, but the drive ran out of steam on the Comet’s nine-yard line.

Tough defense helped GHV earn back the ball.  Another Prohaska pass, this time to Harley Forry, was good for an 18-yard pick up, but a fumble relented possession.

The Comets were the first on the board with a 70-yard bomb from Drew Mitchell to Dallas Nehls. Brandon Childs’ PAT kick was good to give the Charles City the lead, 7-0.

The Cardinals were forced to punt after a quick possession and the Comet’s Shane Feller took it to the house for a 69-yard return and the score. The PAT kick was good for a 14-0 first quarter score.

The Cardinals only got flatter in the second quarter. The offense had no spark and the defense couldn’t put the brakes on the Comets. Going into halftime Charles City chalked up two more touchdowns for a 27-0 halftime score.

Following halftime, the Cardinals picked up where they left off, playing a losing battle for field position ultimately resulting in a touchdown and PAT kick. The Cardinals showed a spark on the following drive, putting together a positive series until it ultimately ended in a turnover and a long Comet drive for the end zone for a third quarter score of 40-0.

The fourth quarter belonged to the Cardinals.  They scored twice on Conner Shaw runs of 13-yards and 51 for a final score of 40-12, Charles City.

“My hat’s off to Charles City. They came ready to play and we really didn’t,” said GHV Head Coach Scott VanDusseldorp. “They did a nice job handling our line.”

The Cardinal offense amassed 304-yards, 126 of which came in the fourth quarter to Charles City’s 316, five of which came in the fourth.

GHV’s offense was lead by Shaw with 142-yards and two touchdowns on 16 attempts. Cade Baker added 43-yards on nine tries; Prohaska had 21 on nine; and Jack VanDusseldorp had 15 on four.

Prohaska was five of 12 passing for 87-yards. His receivers were Forry, with four grabs for 48-yards, and Marth had one catch for 39-yards.

The Comets were lead by Tyreque Baker with 61-yards and a touchdown on 10 attempts. Alexander Koehler added 45-yards on eight carries.

The passing game was fronted by Drew Mitchell with nine completions on 15 attempts for 206-yards and three touchdowns. His receivers were Shane Feller, with four catches and a touchdown for 60-yards; Dallas Nehls, with three catches for 119-yards and two touchdowns; and Jaden Foster with two catches for 27-yards.

Leading the Cardinal defense was Gabe Umbarger with seven tackles and a sack. Also contributing was Nick Joynt and Baker with five apiece; Forry with four; VanDusseldorp and Grady Umbarger with three and one-half each; and Matt Sonquist with two and one-half tackles.

“We will have to get refocused this week, as we will be traveling to Osage for a very tough district game,” said VanDusseldorp.

The Cardinals resume district play this Friday against the Osage Green Devils (3-2, 1-2).