|
Cardinals begin season with win
By Jacob Truchard, Sports Writer
Cardinal Pride started off with a roar as the Columbus Cardinals’ varsity football team recorded a win against the Bulldogs at Yoakum Friday, Aug. 29.
The Cardinals defeated the Bulldogs 28-16 in a game that showcased solid defensive efforts from both teams.
“It was a really good win for the program,” said Columbus High School head football coach Brent Mascheck.
The Cardinals were ahead 8-3 by the half but it was an interception caught by Waddle and an interception recorded by Stephen Appelt later in the second half that sealed the win for the Cardinals.
“There were a lot of first game mistakes for kids getting used to playing on Friday nights but they competed well overall,” Mascheck said
The Cardinals put the first points on the board with a safety recorded by the Cardinal defense with 1:13 remaining in the first quarter.
The Cardinals recorded the first touchdown of the night with a 10-yard run by Darvis Coleman with 10:58 remaining in the second quarter. Jamie Strauss’s kick attempt was no good and the score was Cardinals 8, Bulldogs 0.
The Bulldogs scored for the first time of the contest with a 36-yard field goal by William Market with one second remaining in the first half to make it 8-3 in favor of Columbus.
Darvis Coleman recorded his second touchdown of the night with a 7-yard run with 4:59 remaining in the third quarter. The two-point conversion run attempt failed and the score was Cardinals 14, Bulldogs 3.
Coleman returned to the endzone with a 10-yard touchdown run with 8:45 remaining in the fourth quarter. Strauss’s kick was on target and the Cardinals increased their lead to 21-3.
The Bulldogs showed no signs of backing down and scored their first touchdown of the night with a 40-yard touchdown pass from Market to Darnell Brown with 8:18 remaining in the game. Market’s kick was good and the score was Cardinals 21, Bulldogs 16.
The Cardinals returned to the endzone with a 1-yard touchdown run by Thommy Ostert with 1:44 remaining in the contest. Strauss’s extra point kick attempt was successful and the Cardinals improved their score to 28-10 in favor of Yoakum.
The Bulldogs proved they were down but not out scoring one final touchdown of the game with a 32-yard pass by Market to Ryan Mikulik with 1:05 left on the clock. The two-point conversion run failed and the final score was Cardinals 28, Bulldogs 16.
Offenively, the Cardinals recorded 380 total yards. The Cardinal defense limited Yoakum to 216 offensive yards.
Leading rushers for the Cardinals were Clayton Bubak with 23 carries for 150 yards; Coleman with 15 carries for 84 yards and three touchdowns; Chris Whitehead with seven carries for 59 yards; D.J. Coleman with two carries for 24 yards; and Brandon Bimage with three carries for 22 yards.
Leading rushers for the Bulldogs were Trey Hights with 10 carries for 49 yards; Larry Brown with three carries for 33 yards; and Market with three carries for 20 yards.
Columbus quarterback Broo-ks Sitka recorded three pass completions out of six attempts for 36 yards.
Market recorded six completions out of 18 attempts for the Bulldogs for 112 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Leading receivers for the Cardinals were Appelt with two receptions for 26 yards and Bimage with one reception for 10 yards.
Leading receivers for the Bulldogs were Brown with three receptions for 54 yards and one touchdown; Mikulik with one reception for 32 yards and one touchdown; and Koryon Beltran with two receptions for 26 yards.
Defensive standouts for the Cardinals were Thommy Ostert, two solo tackles, eight assisted tackles and two forced fumbles; Tyler Ostert, two solo tackles and two assisted tackles; Tyler Vanterpool, three solo tackles, one assisted tackle and one recovered fumble; Jonathan Stavinoha, one solo tackle and three assisted tackles; Cody Valenta, three assisted tackles; Caleb Darr, two assisted tackles; and Alec Bray, two assisted tackles.
The Cardinals recorded eight penalties overall for 60 yards and the Bulldogs recorded three penalties for 20 yards.
Columbus fumbled the ball three times and recovered once.
Mascheck added that a win is a win, but that the Cardinals have to improve on their mistakes as the weeks go by.
“I am proud that the athletes found a way to win the game,” Mascheck said. “I am also proud of the condition of our team and how it came into play late in the game to help us get the win.”
The Cardinals’ varsity football team will compete in their first home game of the 2008 season wihen they take on the Van Vleck Leopards at Memorial Stadium Friday, Sept. 5 beginning at 7:30 p.m.
| 
