Cardinals roll over Midgets in 41-20 victory

The Garner-Hayfield/Ventura football team stretched their win streak to four, as they rolled over Estherville-Lincoln Central, 41-20, in a District showdown Friday night on the road.

“We came out a little flat and Estherville made us pay for it early,” said Coach Scott VanDusseldorp.

The Midgets found the endzone first to take a 7-0 lead.  Keith Schwickerath scored on an eight yard run for the Cardinals, but the PAT failed for a 7-6 score.  E-LC scored again on a 36-yard run, 14-6.  Alex Van Gerpen scored for G-H/V in the final minutes of the first quarter and Braden Meints connected on the PAT for a 14-12 score.

The black and red really got rolling in the second quarter, picking up two TDs. Van Gerpen scored on a six-yard run and Meints connected on the kick, 19-14.  Quarterback Spencer Shaw hung onto the ball and ran in another TD.  The two-point conversion pass from Shaw to Seth Williams was good, giving the Cards a halftime lead of 27-14.

The third quarter was all Cardinals again.  Tyler Buck scored on a 11-yard run and the Meints kick was good, 34-14.  Schwickerath ran in his second TD of the game and again Meints connected on the PAT, 41-14.  

The Midgets scored in the final quarter on a 28-yard pass for the final 41-20 Cardinal victory.

“Our team rallied and made some nice adjustments to pull together the win,” said VanDusseldorp.  “I was proud of how our guys were able to turn the switch on when it was necessary.”

G-H/V recorded 22 first downs compared to Estherville-LC’s seven.  The Cardinals collected 403 yards of total offense, all on the ground, compared to 219 for the Midgets.

Schwickerath led the Cardinal ground game with 150 yards on 25 carries and two touchdowns.  Van Gerpen picked up 100 yards on nine attempts and he also accounted for two Cardinal TDs.  Buck picked up - Read More Via e-Edition