Cards capitalize and win 34-16

[caption id="attachment_12605" align="alignleft" width="270"] GHV’s Harley Forry picks up some yards for the Cardinals. Forry was the Cardinals leading offensive player with 63-yards and two touchdowns.[/caption]

Garner-Hayfield-Ventura’s (2-0) defense powered through a rough first half to shut down the Humboldt Bulldogs (0-2), 34-16.

Big plays in the first half led the way for a 14-7 Bulldog lead at halftime.  Between some costly turnovers and the heavy step of a GHV run machine, Humboldt started to slip and allowed the Cardinals to take over.

The first quarter of action went scoreless, but saw movement from both teams’ offenses. In the opening play of the second quarter, Harley Forry was able to finish off the Cardinal’s second drive with a 21-yard touchdown. The PAT was good for a seven-point lead.

A 59-yard pick up following the return put Humboldt within spitting distance of the end zone. Still, the Bulldogs were unable to convert, surrendering possession to the Cards on their own 12-yard line.

After quickly surrendering the ball, a couple plays went long and the Bulldogs found their way into the end zone on a nine-yard Drew Thomas touchdown. The PAT kick was good to tie it up.

The Cardinal offense continued to misfire, giving possession back to the Bulldogs whose 91-yard touchdown pass made good use of an expiring clock, for the 14-7 halftime lead.

Long drives resulting in turnovers were a major theme early in the third quarter. But that streak was broken after good field position yielded the Cards a Jack VanDusseldorp rushing touchdown.  Dane Whipple’s PAT kick was good, 14-14.

With the game tied, the Cardinal defense continued to lay it on thick, creating another turnover that resulted in a GHV lead in the last minute of the third on a Cade Baker 38-yard run and Whipple PAT.

The fourth quarter saw more of the same, as the Cards fell into their stride, marching the length of the field to score again on a Forry touchdown.

Two consecutive Bulldog interceptions and a monster Prohaska pick up got the Cards another hard-fought touchdown. Tough defense sealed the deal, as GHV chalked up their second win, 34-16.

“I am very proud of this team,” said GHV Head Coach Scott VanDusseldorp.  “We battled through on an extremely hot night and played more physical and had a better second half.”

The Cardinals defeated the Bulldogs by limiting mistakes and creating turnovers. Humboldt reported five turnovers to GHV’s one.

While GHV produced significantly more rushing yards (322-142), Humboldt made up the margin by passing, generating 170-yards versus GHV’s 50. Offensive output was closely matched. GHV finished the game with 377 total yards while Humboldt followed with 312.

GHV was lead on offense by Forry, who finished the game with 63-yards and two touchdowns on 15 attempts. Baker added 104-yards on 15 attempts for one touchdown. Also contributing was Prohaska with 59-yards on six carries and one touchdown.  Conner Shaw had 43-yards on 12 carries, Nick Joynt finished with 33-yards on two carries and Jack VanDusseldorp had 23-yards and a touchdown on nine carries.

Prohaska completed three passes of an attempted six for 55-yards.  Forry was the receiver on all three passes.

Whipple  nailed four of five PAT kicks.

Leading the Humboldt rushing offensive was Kyle McBeth with 129 yards on 17 carries. Drew Thomas added 17 yards on seven carries with one touchdown.

Thomas also completed five of 19 passes for 170 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions. His receivers were Mason Wickett with three catches for 66 yards; Colton Monson with one catch for 91 yards and a touchdown; and Devon Clark with one catch for 13 yards.

Defensively, the Cards were led by Chase Theobald with four and one-half tackles and an interception. Connor Smith also added four and one-half. Whipple and Matt Sonquist each had four. Forry contributed three and one-half and an interception, while Joynt and Tucker Datema chipped in two and one-half.

The Cardinals travel to Forest City (0-2) this Friday to begin district play.