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The Columbus Cardinals were eliminated from the UIL 3A Playoffs this past Friday after being defeated by the Yoakum Bulldogs.
It was a very close game with a lot of emotions on both sidelines as it was really anyone’s game up until the two-minute warning in the 4th quarter.
Things started out a bit rough for the Cardinals as the Bulldogs defense shut them down on their opening drive. They forced the Cards to turn the ball over on downs, but the Cards’ defense came ready to play too.
After the Bulldogs’ defense forced the Cards to turn the ball over on downs, the Cards’ defense took the field and forced the Bulldogs to turn the ball over on downs. Unfortunately, the Cards offense was unable to advance the ball down the field and had to punt the ball back to the Bulldogs late in the first quarter.
After punting, the Cards gave up the opening touchdown to the Bulldogs who found a lane and ran the ball into the endzone. This gave the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead which they carried into the second quarter.
Early in the second quarter the Bulldogs offense found the endzone again to extend their lead to 13-0 after a missed PAT. The Cards knew they needed to respond if they were going to have a chance in this game and Jack Schobel handed the ball off to Doc Cantu who ran for 52 yards to score a touchdown to make the score 13-7 and gave the Cards a spark offensively.
Trailing by only six points, both teams tightened up defensively forcing nothing but punts and turnover on downs the rest of the half. With the score at 13-7 the second half of the game started with the Bulldogs having possession.
On their opening third quarter drive they ripped off a 27 yard run to score their third touchdown of the game. After the PAT was good, the Bulldogs sat with a 20-7 lead over the Cards.
The Cards had a chance to score in the third quarter, but the stout and speedy Bulldogs defense stopped them inside the 10-yard line. Despite getting the stop inside their 10-yard line, the Bulldogs did not score on their next drive which carried over into the fourth quarter.
Instead of scoring actually they threw a pass that Cooper Osbourne jumped up and snatched out of the air. This gave the Cards yet another spark to start the fourth quarter and it led to a touchdown for the Cards, but an offensive pass interference call canceled it out.
Brody Vinklarek (left) wrestles down the Yoakum ball carrier with help from Aiden Glueck for a tackle for loss. Citizen | Evan Hale
The Cards never panicked though, and their defense went back on the field looking to make another play. The Bulldogs ended up fumbling the football inside their fiveyard line and the Cards jumped on top of it to retake possession at the two-yard line.
Jack Schobel made no mistake and punched the ball into the endzone to bring the score to 20-14 with just over six minutes left in the fourth quarter. Then the Cards went for an onside kick which they recovered to shift momentum back to their side.
Once again though, the strong Bulldogs defense kept the Cards at bay and forced them to turn the ball over on downs. The Bulldogs then ran down the clock before taking a knee to end the football game with a score of 2014.
The Cards fought hard to defend their State Championship but came up just short, fret not though Columbus Cardinal fans because this team will be back next year and they will have a chip on their shoulder.
