Too little, too late for the Cards

The Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Cardinal’s (7-3, 5-1), playoff run came to an end Wednesday night, Oct. 28, when they faced a consistent New Hampton Chickasaw (5-6, 3-3) offense. Late in the game the Cardinals offense rolled and its defense stood firm, but it came too late in the game to make a difference, as the Chickasaw’s had the 26-6 advantage as the final buzzer sounded.

The slow, grinding Cardinal run game eventually became its Achille’s heel as the team struggled to make the game’s final minutes count despite a working offense and stout defense.

New Hampton started the game with a series of short rushing gains that lasted over half the first quarter and ended in a five-yard  touchdown and PAT kick.

The Cardinal drive fell short, punting after three attempts. But the team’s defense showed it had something to prove, stopping the Chickasaws after just a few downs.

GHV’s offense was again unable to turn the dial on the first down marker, bringing an end to the first quarter as the Chickasaws led, 7-0.

A 56-yard pass set the stage for another Chickasaw touchdown.  New Hampton scored on a two-yard run and another PAT was good, 14-0.

The GHV offense was still a step behind the Chickasaw defense, again going three and out.

The Chickasaws picked up good yardage on the following drive, but were stopped on the Cardinal 26. GHV’s run game was looking good; picking up speed as they encroached on Chickasaw territory, but a fumble brought about an early end to the best Cardinal drive of the game.

Favor was returned to the Cardinals when one incomplete pass was followed up by a Harley Forry interception. The half ended seconds later, with New Hampton taking a 14-0 lead into the half.

GHV received the kickoff and moved the chains before failing to convert on fourth down.

New Hampton capitalized on the field position and put together a series of positive yards that ended with another Chickasaw TD.

GHV’s offense was sluggish and was followed by a short punt, leading quickly to another New Hampton touchdown with seconds left in the third quarter.

The Cardinals still had some fight left in them, when on the following drive they marched the length of the field with many small gains. But the drive came to an end with a fumble on the Chickasaw 15.

Following the offense’s lead, the Cardinals handed New Hampton its own three and out midway through the fourth.

The Cards continued the hard running, punching it into the Chickasaw end zone on a three yard gain by Forry with little more than a minute left in the game.

The onside kick attempt failed, bringing about a final score of 26-6, advantage Chickasaws.

“New Hampton was a very good football team and ran the ball effectively. I am very proud of this Cardinal football team. They worked extremely hard all year and did a phenomenal job working together. A lot of credit goes to my senior class. They took on the leadership role very well and were just outstanding. They have laid down a foundation for the underclassmen that is very solid,” said GHV Head Coach Scott VanDusseldorp.

The Chickasaws tallied 203-yards rushing and 83-passing and went six for 10 on third downs. The Cardinals racked up 166-yards rushing, 10-passing and went four of 15 on third downs.

The Cardinals were lead on offense by Conner Shaw with 99-yards on 28 attempts. Following his lead was Cade Baker with 39-yards on 12 attempts; Forry had 21-yards and a touchdown on seven attempts; and Lucas Prohaska had seven yards on four attempts.

Prohaska also completed two of four passes, good for 10-yards. His receivers were Ben Baumgard with nine-yards and Shaw picked up one-yard.

The Chickasaw offense was lead by Trevor Ambrose with 100-yards and a touchdown on 16 attempts, followed by Cole Denner with 56-yards and a touchdown on 10 attempts; Adam Wurzer with 30-yards and a touchdown on eight attempts; and Alex Troyna with 17-yards and a touchdown on eight attempts.

GHV’s defense was lead by Nick Joynt with six tackles; Forry had six tackles and an interception; Shaw collected five and one-half tackles; Grady Umbarger and Connor Smith each had four and one-half; Baker, Gabe Umbarger and Chase Theobald all had three and one-half tackles; and Matt Sonquist ended with three tackles.

“We have a lot of great talent returning next year, and if these returning players are able to continue to build on what the seniors left them, we will be solid again next year,” said VanDusseldorp.