GHV’s stout defense shuts down Osage

By Scott Watson 

In a display of unrelenting defense and a high caliber run game, Garner-Hayfield/Ventura (2-0) walked away from Friday’s game against Osage (0-2) with yet another impressive win.

  In a 48-0 bout against the Green Devils, GHV scored at will, as 41 points were chalked up in the first half. 

“Our offensive line was making very large holes and our running backs were doing a nice job exploding through those holes,” said Head Coach Scott VanDusseldorp.

  After a couple three and outs from Osage and a missed field goal by GHV, some quick footwork and fine blocking helped Spencer Shaw break through for a touchdown. The point after touchdown kick by Braden Meints was good.

  A fumble by the Green Devils, forced by the hands of Colton Knutson and recovered by Allan Devora, caused the possession arrow to switch in favor of the Cardinals, who took advantage of a short field. A quick pass from Shaw to Shawn Murphy tallied another touchdown and another Meints PAT kick.

  Another fumble by Osage was recovered by Murphy, giving the Cardinals another short field.  Logan Miller found the endzone and Meints another boot through the uprights.

  More solid defense from the Cardinals resulted in a Green Devil three and out.  GHV answered that with Nic Tusha scoring, bringing the first quarter score to 27-0.

  The next round of scoring was committed again by Tusha on a 33-yard breakaway dash for the end zone. Meints’ PAT was good.

  A 35-yard pass from Collin Havel to Sam McCarty gave Osage some serious yards to work with, but they couldn’t convert and a turnover on downs ensued.

  Threatening to score once more, a fumble from GHV’s Mark Wellik was recovered by Thatcher Goodale, giving Osage the ball with their heels on their own goal line. After a first down removed the Green Devils from imminent danger, they were forced to resign their possession and gave the ball back to the Cardinals.  Meints answered with a touchdown and PAT kick bringing the halftime score to 41-0.

  Substitutions found the third quarter more evenly matched.  No scores were recorded, only long drives from both teams.

  Seconds into the fourth quarter, Osage attempted to punt out of their own end zone. Allan Devora broke the line and smacked the ball out of the air, securing it for another GHV touchdown and Meints PAT.

  A couple long drives from both teams brought the game to its closing 48-0 score.

  GHV was led in rushing by Tusha with 97 yards and two touchdowns on 14 attempts. Miller had 75 rushing yards and one touchdown on 15 attempts. Shaw contributed 68 yards and one touchdown on four attempts. The Cardinals had 353 total rushing yards, while holding the Green Devils to -69.

  Only one pass was attempted by the Cardinals this week. It was completed from Shaw to