Cardinals beat Central Lyon/GLR; B-H/RV dominates in final game

The Garner-Hayfield/Ventura football team had more than they could handle against Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley in second round of the Class 2A playoffs.  The Nighthawk’s speed, depth and overall power led them to a 45-7 drubbing of the Cardinals.

Not a lot went right for the Cards Monday night, beginning with the injury of their leading running back, Alex Van Gerpen.  Van Gerpen dislocated his thumb in the opening round of playoffs Wednesday night.  Due to the large cast on his right hand, Van Gerpen fumbled on his first carry, setting B-H/RV up for a touchdown.  Not long after that, the Nighthawks blocked a punt for a safety.

B-H/RV pulled to an early 21-0 first quarter lead and stretched it to 38-0 by halftime.

The Cardinals were able to score in the third quarter when Van Gerpen found the endzone on a nine-yard touchdown run.  Braden Meints connected on the PAT for a score of 38-7.  One more touchdown for the Nighthawks in the fourth quarter ended the game, 45-7.

B-H/RV had 366 total yards, compared to 142 for the Cards.  The Nighthawks, who are known for their passing game, had 166 yards in the air.  G-H/V had 55 passing yards.

Quarterback Spencer Shaw threw six passes for the night, two were intercepted, two were incomplete and two were completions.  Keith Schwickerath had one catch for 48-yards and Shawn Murphy hauled in the other for seven yards.

Despite the dislocated thumb, Van Gerpen was still the team’s leading ground gainer with 60-yards on 17 carries.  Schwickerath had 32-yards on six attempts. 

Corey Dodd and Van Gerpen led the defense with eight tackles apiece.  Schwickerath wasn’t far behind with seven tackles.  Josh Engslter, Meints and Murphy all had six tackles apiece.  Nic Tusha had four tackles, while Mark Willik, Jimmy Legge and Tyler Buck had three.

B-H/RV will continue on to play Spirit Lake in the State Quarterfinals on Friday.  The Nighthawks (11-0) beat the Indians, 25-10, earlier in the season.

G-H/V 30, Central Lyon 6

G-H/V opened the playoff schedule on Wednesday, Oct. 24, by dominating Central Lyon/GLR, 30-6.  The win was the Cardinals’ first home playoff win since 1991. 

“Our defense played a very good game against a very tough team,” said Coach Scott Van Dusseldorp.  “Offensively, we moved the ball extremely well, especially in the first half of the game.”

The defense played a huge part in Wednesday night’s win.  The Cards forced five fumbles and recovered four of them.  The defense also held the Lions to only one touchdown, which was scored early in the second quarter on a 67-yard run.

The Cardinal offense had already scored two TD’s of their own by that point.  Alex Van Gerpen picked up both touchdowns, one on a 40-yard run and the other on a five-yard carry.  Both PAT attempts by Braden Meints failed.

G-H/V collected one more touchdown before the half when Spencer Shaw ran in a 13-yard quarterback keeper.  Van Gerpen ran in the two-point conversion for a 20-6 lead.

The Cardinals added more points to the scoreboard in the fourth quarter.  Meints connected on a 35-yard fieldgoal, 23-6.  The final TD came from Shaw