Cardinals roll into level 3 with 28-7 win over Eau Claire Regis
Necedah running back Errik Manning breaks free for a 62-yard touchdown during the third quarter.
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By David Paradise
Star-Times Sports Editor
That's how physical Necedah football can be, Necedah coach Erich Mach said following the Cardinals 28-7 level 2 victory over Eau Claire Regis on Saturday, in which the Cardinals outgained the Ramblers 390-175.
Necedah was able to take an early lead, with a quick three-play, 69-yard drive. Ethan Quinter was able to score on a 20-yard touchdown run that was set up by a 45-yard run by Errik Manning, to lead 6-0 with 10:42 left in the first quarter.
Kicker Curt Parker was able to pin the Ramblers inside their own 10-yard line on the ensuing kickoff and the Cardinal defense forced a quick three and out.
Following a poor punt by the Ramblers, Necedah took over on the Regis 27-yard line and needed just one play to score, as Quinter broke through the middle of the Regis defense and raced for a 27-yard score, giving Necedah a 12-0 lead with 8:42 left in the first quarter.
The Necedah defense shut down the Rambler ground game on the next possession and forced another three and out. Necedah's offense went back to work, behind the duo of Quinter and Manning. The Cardinals were able to pick up a first down, but Regis slowed the Necedah attack and forced a punt.
A penalty on the Cardinal gave Regis their first, first down of the game, but Brett Jump was able to jar the ball loose on a third down pass play, forcing another Regis punt, to end the first quarter.
Necedah couldn't get anything going in the beginning of the second quarter, and were forced to punt. Regis was able to get the ball moving, until two straight incomplete passes set up a short fourth down. The Ramblers tried a fake punt, but Mike Weber was able to break through the Rmbler blockers and stop the Rambler runner.
The Cardinals tried to convert a fourth down on their next possession, but came up just short, and Regis took over. A 36-yard pass and catch gave them the ball inside the Cardinal 10-yard line. Necedah was able to hold the Ramblers on first through third down, but Regis came up with crucial fourth down conversion to narrow the Cardinal lead to 12-7, with 4:28 left in the first half.
A penalty stalled the Cardinals' next drive and Regis looked to take the lead, but Jump and Will Van Lannen were able to take down a Rambler runner on fourth down to give the ball back to the offense, with under a minute left in the half. Necedah was content to take a 12-7 lead into the break and just ran out the clock.
Regis started the second half with the ball, and started to drive down the field, before the Cardinals' defense stiffened and forced a Rambler punt.
The Regis punt traveled about 10 yards, and Necedah's offense looked to put another score on the board. Following a penalty by Necedah, Quinter was able to pick up eight yards to get the Cardinals back to the original line of scrimmage, following an imcomplete pass, Quinter ran for a tough 18 yards, before Manning broke a 62 yard touchdown run. Parker added the extra point and Necedah led 19-7 with 7:41 left in the third.
Necedah's defense forced another three and out, but the Cardinals couldn't add to the lead and Regis took over on the Cardinal 42-yard line. Regis went to the air to try to narrow the gap. A short completion ended the third quarter, and a huge hit by Travis Dushek jarred the ball loose on a long pass attempt to start the fourth. Regis turned the ball over on downs.
Quinter and Manning took turns running the ball, before a reverse by Jump, set up a 25-yard touchdown run by Manning, giving Necedah a 25-7 lead with 6:36 left in the game. Necedah was able to stop another Regis fourth down attempt, and the Cardinals quickly moved the ball down the field, before an incomplete pass and sack stalled the drive. Parker was able to connect on a 33-yard field goal, to finish the scoring and give the Cardinals a 28-7 victory.
"We played a good game, our losses were by a combined seven points and we didn't play good, we finally played good today," Mach said. "Give everyone credit, the players, the coaches, everyone, it was a good game."
Necedah was led by Manning with 217 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries. Quinter added 149 yards and a pair of scores on 23 carries. The Cardinals' defense limited Regis to just 175 total yards.
Next up for the Cardinals is facing five-time defending Division 6 State Champion Stratford Tigers(10-1) at Stratford on Saturday.
Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.