CARDINAL TURNOVERS LEAD TO LOPSIDED LOSS AT STRATFORD
The Stratford defense shutdown the Cardinal attack on Saturday.
By David Paradise
Star-Times Sports Editor
The defending Division 6 state champ is safe for another week, as the Stratford Tigers forced five Cardinal turnovers (three interceptions and two fumbles) and broke open a scoreless game with a 13-0 second quarter and cruised to a 41-0 level 3 victory.
Necedah came into the game with a powerful rushing game, but the Cardinal offense couldn't find its rhythm picking up only three first downs against the host Tigers, and was outgained 281-62.
The Cardinals opened the game with the ball and looked to get on the board early against the Tigers. Stratford came out strong, sacking Necedah quarterback Zach Mach on the Cardinals first play of their opening drive. Necedah was able to rebound from the poor start behind a strong 17-yard run from Errik Manning that gave the Cardinals a first down. Unfortunately for the Cardinals the first down turned out the be their only one until late in the second quarter. Following a Curt Parker punt the Necedah defense went to work trying to give the offense another shot. An incomplete pass brought up a third-and-eight for the Tigers, and Steve Rozak and Mike Weber came up with a huge stop for Necedah, forcing Stratford to punt.
Necedah started their next drive on their own 20-yard line, but were forced into a three-and-out and punted back to the Tigers. Stratford was able to pick up a fourth down conversion early in the drive, but the Cardinal defense wouldn't break. Ethan Belmonte and Jesse Ard were able to take down the quarterback on the ensuing third down, and Weber was able to get a sack of his own on fourth down, giving the ball back to the Cardinal offense.
A mishandled snap by the Cardinals gave the ball right back to Stratford. The Tigers offense gained some momentum with a 21-yard run late in the first that gave them the ball in Cardinal territory to start the second quarter.
A Manning tackle for loss set up another Tiger fourth down attempt, and the Cardinals defense was able to stop the Stratford attempt and give the ball back to the offense, which was looking to put the first points on the board. Necedah couldn't get anything going as their second turnover of the night, this one an interception, gave the ball back to Stratford deep in Cardinal territory. The Tigers took advantage and scored four plays late on an 11-yard touchdown run by Ryan Schalow to go up 7-0 with 8:23 left in the second quarter
Necedah's offense still couldn't get anything going, and was forced to punt back to Stratford. The Tigers quickly moved the ball down the field until the Cardinals came up with another sack and forced another fourth down attempt. Stratford quarterback Mason Nesbitt was able to find Ben Frodl, and Frodl was able to score from 23 yards out to put the Tigers up 13-0 with 2:58 left in the first half.
The Cardinals offense was looking to narrow the gap before the half and got some things going behind Mach passes to Brett Jump and Manning, but the drive stalled and Necedah punted back to the Tigers who were content to run out the clock and go into halftime with a 13-0 lead.
Stratford started the half with the ball looking to increase their lead as the Cardinals defense looked to come up with a stop and give their offense another shot to cut into the lead. The Tigers were able to put together a 6:38, 14-play touchdown drive that put Necedah down 21-0.
Another Cardinal fumble gave the ball right back to Stratford, but the defense held and the Tigers missed a field goal, keeping the score at 21-0.
Stratford's defense forced another three-and-out, and the offense used a 35-yard pass play to move down the field. Jay Wussow scored from 12 yards out on the final play of the third to put Stratford up 27-0 after three.
The fourth quarter was all Stratford. The Tigers got their second interception of the game, and Schalow returned it for a touchdown putting Stratford up 35-0. Necedah was able to pick up a first down on their next possession, before another interception gave the ball back to Stratford. The Tigers added another score to bring the final to 41-0, and putting an end to the Cardinals season.
"The kids played hard, they never gave up," Necedah coach Erich Mach said. "We left it all out on the field."
Necedah was led by Manning with 43 yards on nine carries. The Cardinals finished the season with a 9-3 record.
Manning led the Cardinal with 43 yards on nine carries.