Cards back on track with Homecoming win over Forest City

(Above) GHV’s Dane Whipple brings down a Forest City ball carrier in Friday night’s Homecoming game.  Also pictured for GHV is Jace Pringnitz and Connor Burke.  -Reporter photo by Chris Barragy

Strong play in the trenches Friday night fueled a 34-14 Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Cardinal (2-2, 1-1) homecoming win over the Forest City Indians (0-4, 0-2).

The Cards racked up 270 yards rushing, while stuffing the Indians’ ground game for -29 yards. The result of stingy line play kept the Indians in difficult down and distance, leading to better field position for the home team.

“I am much happier with the intensity on Friday,” said GHV Head Coach Scott Van Dusseldorp. “We came out and did a nice job on both sides of the ball. We needed to bounce back from the previous two Fridays.”

The first quarter was a series of drives cut short by tough defense, but GHV was first to break the pattern.  A Forest City fumble put the Cardinal offense in great field position, which was capitalized on when Nick Joynt found the end zone on an 11-yard run. Connor Burke’s PAT kick was good.

The Forest City kickoff return man found a seam on the ensuing kickoff, taking the ball to the house for six on an 89-yard return. The PAT was good to close the first quarter at 7-7.

A short punt midway through the second quarter gave the Cardinals excellent field position once again. A play later, Jace Prignitz broke free for a 25-yard touchdown run. Burke’s PAT kick was good.

Forest City was unable to respond with any forward progress and again failed to flip the field for the Cardinal offense following an 18-

[wlm_nonmember]To read more of this article, please login or sign up for our E-Edition[/wlm_nonmember]

[wlm_ismember]

yard punt.

Ryan Meyers’ passing delivered a change-of-pace to move the chains and set up a two-yard rushing touchdown, courtesy of Joynt. The PAT kick was good to close the half at 21-7, Cardinals.

The second half saw an improved Indian passing game that had both teams battling for field position. As the third quarter ticked down, the Forest City offense delivered on its momentum, connecting on a 15-yard passing touchdown. The PAT kick was good to make it a one-possession game, 21-14.

Plagued greatly by turnovers, in the fourth quarter especially, the Indians were unable to successfully mount a comeback.

With under two-minutes left in the game, Meyers launched a bomb to Joynt, who strode into the end zone on a 47-yard touchdown catch. The PAT kick was Burke’s first and only miss of the night, 27-14.

The Indians’ first play on the following drive was picked off by Meyers. It was also Meyers whose 20-yard pass to Anthony Sherwood put the Cards in position to score their final touchdown of the game. Joynt got the honors as time expired. Burke’s PAT was spot-on for the 34-14 final.

The Cardinals finished the game with 374-yards of total offense to the Indians’ 169. And while the Cards had a more balanced offensive approach (270-yards rushing and 104-passing), the Indians were extremely one-dimensional with -29 rushing yards.

Leading the Cardinal offense was Pringnitz, who ran for 181-yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. Joynt ended with three touchdowns and 78-yards on 16 carries.

Meyers passed for 104-yards, going seven for 12 with a touchdown. Joynt had three grabs for 57-yards and a touchdown. Sherwood had four catches for 47-yards.

GHV was lead on defense by Joynt, Pringnitz and Landon Dalbeck with five and one-half tackles apiece. Dane Whipple and Brock Gouge added four and one-half tackles each, while Buck Weaver, Jack Van Dusseldorp and Sherwood had two.

GHV travels to Hampton Friday night to take on the Hampton-Dumont Bulldogs (0-4, 0-2) in continued District 2 action.

“The Bulldogs are much better than their 0-4 record. We need to prepare for a different offense than we have faced so far this year,” said Van Dusseldorp.

SCORES FROM 9-15

CLASS 2A DISTRICT 2

Clear Lake 16, Osage 6

GHV 34, Forest City 14

Cresco 21, C-G 6

New Hampton 41, H-D 20

UPCOMING GAMES FOR 9-22:

Clear Lake @ Forest City

GHV @ Hampton-Dumont

Cresco @ Osage

New Hampton @ C-G

[/wlm_ismember]