Cards keep collecting the victories

The Garner-Hayfield-Ventura run game kicked down the door of another conference foe’s defense with an overwhelming display of power run offense on Friday night. The Cardinals (4-0) defeated the Hampton-Dumont Bulldogs, 27-6. GHV stuck with what’s proving to be a winning formula in challenging the opposition to try and stop the predictable run, then playing physical bend-but-don’t break defense on the other side of the ball.

After a three-and-out to start the scrimmage, the Cardinals received the punt near mid-field. The battering ram was set. Small gain, after small gain, followed by a loss and a penalty, set the stage for a two-yard Lucas Prohaska touchdown. The PAT kick was good for a 7-0 GHV lead.

The game of field position ensued and found the Cardinals on the receiving end of another TD by way of a Conner Shaw 24-yard run. Dane Whipple’s second PAT kick was good, 14-0.

A three-and-out put the ball back in the hands of the Cardinal offense.  GHV again marched down the field, but came up just shy. The Bulldogs, in response, changed tactics and went to the air, going the distance until a one-yard touchdown run capped the drive, for a 14-6 halftime score.

The Cardinals were ready to punch it in for another score in the third quarter, but the team fell short in the red zone.

A Harley Forry pick six and Whipple PAT kick gave the Cardinal’s lead additional cushion, 21-6.

The Bulldogs again went to the air in an attempt to recapture the team’s first half momentum, but the Cardinal adjustments were strong and the drive resulted in another interception.

Good defense leads to good offense, as Shaw found the end zone on a 20-yard dash.

Turnovers and drives on the road to nowhere in the fourth quarter put a cap on the game and resulted in the final 27-6 Cardinal victory.

“This was a nice win for us. Hampton-Dumont is a good football team,” said GHV Head Coach Scott VanDusseldorp. “We need to fix some of our mistakes if we want to continue to be successful.”

The Cardinals outran their opponent 321-yards to 57. They were outpassed 110-yards to 43 for a grand total of 364 total yards to the Bulldogs’ 167.

GHV was led on offense by the familiar feet of Shaw, whose 178-yards on 31 carries and two touchdowns carried the heaviest offensive load. Forry also added 65-yards on three carries; Cade Baker added 45-yards on 12; Jack VanDusseldorp added 20 on seven; and Prohaska had 16-yards and a touchdown on six carries.

Doing the passing for the Cards was Prohaska, with four completions on nine attempts. Forry caught two for 31-yards and Shaw had two catches for 12-yards.

Jonny Guerrero lead the Bulldog rushing game with 45-yards on nine carries, followed by Hunter Sutton with 14-yards on three carries.

The Bulldog passing game was fronted by Coleton Barz with nine completions on 22 attempts for 110-yards and three interceptions.

  Leading the Cardinal defensive was Nick Joynt with eight and one-half tackles and an interception. Behind him was Chase Theobald with five tackles; Forry had five and an interception; Gabe Umbarger had four; Matt Sonquist picked up three; Jack VanDusseldorp and Shaw each had two and one-half; while Connor Smith and Grady Umbarger had two tackles apiece.

“This week is Homecoming and we need to make sure we remain focused,” said VanDusseldorp. “Charles City is a football team that will come in here ready to win.”

Friday’s game against the Comes (2-3) is a non-district home match-up.  Game time is 7:30 p.m.