Cards Down Wolves 42-33 In Opener

ST. MARY'S GAGE HEDSTROM (2) winds the ball up while Twin Loup players close in. The Cardinals started the season strong with a 42-33 win over the Wolves Friday, Aug. 30. Photo Courtesy Ann Krotter.

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CARDINAL BEN BARLOW (3) takes a leap to catch the ball. Photo Courtesy Ann Krotter.

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TWO CARDINALS GIVE CHASE as Twin Loup's Garrett Hasenauer looks for an out. Photo Courtesy Ann Krotter.

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HUGE TACKLE - Players gather around as the ball is tackled away from Twin Loup. Photo Courtesy Ann Krotter.

The St. Mary's Cardinals got their first taste of the Grid Iron last Friday as they opened up their season with a 42-33 win over the Twin Loup Wolves in Sargent. The Cards have a strong roster this year, with 22 players on the squad. The Cards had a tough season last year, going 3-5. The Cards will be more seasoned this year, as they are still a young squad. They will have built on last year's lessons and will be looking to improve on last year's season.

The Cards started the game behind. The Wolves scored two touchdowns in the first quarter, and with no extra points, they went up 12 - 0. The Cards answered the call when Gage Hedstrom hit Ben Barlow on a 15-yard touchdown to get the Cards on the board 12-6.

The Second quarter saw the Wolves score one touchdown to bring the lead to 19-6. The Cards, far from laying down, came up with two touchdowns. Hedstrom ran in a seven-yard touchdown and then threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Barlow to give the Cards a 20-19 lead at the half.

The third quarter saw the Cards score three times. Hedstrom ran in a four-yard touchdown and then a 51-yard run into the end zone. Barlow got another score when Hedstrom hit him on a 21-yard reception. Hedstrom threw to Barlow for both two-point conversions.

The Wolves scored once in the third and again in the fourth. The Cardinals' damage in the third left the Wolves stammering to make a comeback with the clock running out.

The Cardinals ran 57 plays for 20 first downs and had three penalties for 12 yards. The Wolves ran 53 plays for 16 first downs and had two penalties for 15 yards.

The Cards had 526 all-purpose yards on the night, with  Hedstrom throwing for 11 completions, 200 yards, and three touchdowns. He also had 23 carries for 186 yards and three touchdowns. Jace Rosenkrans ran the ball five times for 45 yards, and Risken Dawson ran the ball seven times for 34 yards.

Barlow had seven receptions for 153 yards and three touchdowns. Dawson had two catches for 24 yards, and Logan Brabec had two for 23 yards.

Leading the defense was Hedstrom with 16 tackles, Barlow and Dawson each had 11 tackles, Rosenkrans eight tackles, Ben Pongratz and Eli Banks six tackles each, Myles Hamilton and Drake Berg four tackles each, and Ruger Kraft one tackle.

The Cardinals will face Burwell in O'Neill on Thursday, Sept. 5, at 7 p.m. The Longhorns defeated Elgin Pope John 24-20 in last week's play.

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