Cardinals start season with 21-14 win over Eleva-Strum

By David Paradise, Star-Times Sports Editor

The Necedah Cardinals football team picked up their seventh straight season opening win on Thursday night when they took on Eleva-Strum (ES) on the road and came away with a 21-14 victory.

"With replacing 19 seniors, a lot of people didn't think we could come in here and win, but we did," Necedah coach Erich Mach said. "We played hard and beat a quality program tonight."

The Cardinals scored twice in a 1:14 span over the first and second quarter to take a controlling 14-0 lead.

Necedah was able to rebound from an interception on their first possession with the defense coming up with a stop on a fourth and short on ES's first possession.

With the ball back, the Cardinals kept the ball on the ground with tailbacks Brett Jump and Kris Manning and fullback Gunnar Mach carrying the ball downfield.

Manning was able to break free late in the first and score from 14-yards out to put Necedah on the board. Ryan Brown nailed the extra point to put the Cardinals up 7-0 with 34 seconds left in the opening quarter.

The Necedah special teams came up with a huge play on the ensuing kick-off causing and recovering a fumble inside ES territory.

Necedah opened the second with a pass from Jaden Lowery to Jeremy Mootz for a solid gain and Jump was able to score from 8-yards out on the next play to increase the Cardinals' lead.

Following another Brown extra point, the Cardinals lead 14-0 early in the second.

The Cardinal defense forced a three-and-out as Mach came up with a sack on third down, forcing ES to punt.

Necedah started their possession inside ES territory and didn't waste any time. Mach picked up seven, Jump gained nine and following an incomplete pass, Manning broke through the ES defense and scored from 22-yards out.

Brown added his third extra point of the game and Necedah lead 21-0 with 7:56 left in the second quarter.

ES wouldn't quit and took advantage of some missed tackles on the ensuing kickoff as Devon Thronson returned the kick 80-yards for a touchdown and cut the lead to 21-7.

Necedah's next possession was stalled by penalties and a long punt return by ES's David Overgard gave ES the ball inside the Necedah 10-yard line.

The Cardinal defense held and forced a fourth and goal. Jump was able to pick off the ES pass in the endzone to stop the scoring threat.

Necedah drove into Eleva-Strum territory behind Jump and Mach, but ran out of time and went into the half up 21-7.

ES started the second half with another good return by Thronson, but a Johnny Baldwin sack stopped the ES drive and gave the ball back to the Cardinals.

Necedah couldn't get anything going on their next possession and punted back to ES.

ES was able to drive into Necedah territory but penalties and another Cardinal stop on fourth down gave the ball back to the Necedah offense late in the third quarter.

Necedah couldn't get anything going and punted back to ES early in the fourth. ES had another good return inside Cardinal territory but was stopped once again on fourth down as Jump broke up a pass.

The Cardinals turned the ball over on downs on their next possession and ES was able to score on a short touchdown run by Vince Susa to cut the lead to 21-14.

Necedah was able to take advantage of a ES penalty on the next possession and ran out the clock to preserve the 21-14 victory.

"I am really proud of the guys and the way they played. We had a couple mistake on special teams and got a little tired but we played well," Mach said. "Matt Housworth played great on defense. All the guys played really well."

The Cardinals held ES to just 84 total yards. Jump led Necedah with 127 yards and a score on 24 carries. Mach added 100 yards on 16 carries.

Necedah will look to pick up another non-conference win next week when they host Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah on Sept. 4.