Cardinal freight train back on track

[caption id="attachment_13210" align="alignleft" width="270"] CONNOR SHAW[/caption]

The Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Cardinals (5-1, 3-0) overpowered the Osage Green Devils (3-3, 1-3) with a physical display of defense and a determined run game in a 31-13 win.

The Cardinals opened the game with a slow offensive start, not gaining an inch after their nine-yard return.

Osage followed up with an attempt to convert on fourth down, but was stopped short by a Jack VanDusseldorp sack.

GHV was first on the board when the impending drive went the length of the field in true grind-ball fashion. VanDusseldorp followed a strong defensive play with a touchdown to cap it off.  He found the endzone on a one-yard rush.

After keeping the drive alive with a fake-punt-pass play from deep in their own territory,

[caption id="attachment_13209" align="alignleft" width="270"] HARLEY FORRY[/caption]

Osage made their way down the field, matching GHV’s touchdown with one of their own.  The PAT was good to end the first quarter, 7-7.

A series of three-and-outs came to an end when the Cards found their rhythm once again.  Consistent gains ended with an 18-yard Conner Shaw rushing touchdown.

With seconds left on the clock, GHV was again within 10-yards of the end zone, but a holding penalty proved too much to overcome, leaving the Cards mere feet from the goal to close the half with a 12-7 lead.

The Cardinals kicked off to the home team to open the second half.  Tight defense had GHV rolling once again.  A monster pickup from Shaw set up a Harley Forry touchdown to get things rolling.

Both teams exemplified tough defense for the remainder of the third quarter, holding each other scoreless and largely without offensive movement.

The defensive trend continued until midway through the fourth, when Osage connected on a deep bomb that went for 83-yards and six points. The PAT was no good for an 18-13 Cardinal lead.

Osage attempted an onside kick, but failed to recover it. In response, Cade Baker followed the onside attempt with a 35-yard run, setting the stage for a six-yard Lucas Prohaska keeper.

In a series of desperation, the Green Devils took to the air on all four downs but failed to convert. The Cards capitalized on the excellent field position and made good use of a clock that ticked below two minutes by scoring a VanDusseldorp one-yard touchdown. Dane Whipple’s PAT kick was good for the final score, 31-13.

“I am very happy with how this team responded after last week’s loss. Our offensive and defensive lines really answered this week as they opened up nice holes offensively and defensively. We had 10 sacks and our running backs fought super hard for extra yards. I am so very proud of this Cardinal football team,” said GHV Head Coach Scott VanDusseldorp.

The Cards outrushed the Green Devils by a convincing margin of 322 to 44-yards. The Osage team was kept on its heels, completing barely 25 percent of its 26 passes. The team was 1/11 on third down attempts and was sacked 10 times for 59 total yards.

GHV was lead on offense by Shaw with 160-yards on 23 carries and a touchdown. Forry recorded 72-yards on 12 carries and a touchdown, Baker added 56 on 13, Prohaska recorded 23 on seven with a touchdown and Jack VanDusseldorp added 11-yards on four carries for two touchdowns.

Prohaska did the Cardinal’s passing, completing three of seven for 45-yards. Forry had two catches for 37-yards and Ben Baumgard had one catch for eight yards.

The Green Devil rushing game was lead by Tristan Johnson with 84-yards on 14 carries and a touchdown.

The Cardinal defensive effort was lead by Nick Joynt and Connor Smith with six and one-half tackles apiece. Grady Umbarger added five and one-half tackles and a sack.  Gabe Umbarger had four and one-half with two and one-half sacks. Chase Theobald had four and one-half tackles and Matt Sonquist had four tackles and one sack. Shaw had three and one-half with two sacks; Jack VanDusseldorp had two and one-half with one and one-half sacks; Todd Finley had two and one-half tackles; and Ty Marth had two tackles and two sacks.

“We really need to keep improving each week and continue to fight to stay in the top four of this district so we can continue play into the post season,” said VanDusseldorp.

The Cards will stay at home this Friday as they continue district play against the Estherville-Lincoln Central Midgets (1-5, 1-3).