Cardinals rumble to easy win
By George Kaupp

The Cardinals take the field! (L-R) Eddie Maracich, Palmer Stokes, Will Garnett, Giacomo Ray, David Boyer, Thomas Winstead, and Ryan Sherlock lead the way. Photo by Jim Marczesky

Colleton Prep 12

Cardinal Newman 34

The Cardinal Newman Cardinals opened their home football season on September 15, 2006, with a resounding 34-12 win over the visiting Colleton Prep WarHawks.

The Cardinals (2-1) never trailed, beginning their offensive onslaught early with an 80-yard touchdown run by sophomore Thomas Winstead just 66 seconds into the game. Winstead took a handoff from quarterback Jones Brown and twisted his way around the field and through the defense, breaking several tackles in the process.

The Cardinals scored again just 72 seconds into the second quarter when junior Jones Brown connected with senior Collins Harper on a 10-yard touchdown pass. The pass completed a 27-yard drive, set up by a nifty 23-yard punt return by Winstead.

Michael Bolchoz sacks the Colleton Prep quarterback. Bolchoz has two sacks so far this season. Photo by Jim Marczesky

Colleton Prep (1-3) tried to claw their way back into the game when, after recovering a fumble deep in Cardinal territory, they scored on a 14-yard run by senior Gus White. The extra point was no good, and the teams went into the half with Cardinal Newman leading 14-6.

On the third play of the third quarter, Harper intercepted a pass by WarHawk quarterback Jeffrey Kinard and returned it 10 yards to Colleton's 44-yard line. Five plays later, sophomore James Williams knifed through the middle of the defense for a 28-yard touchdown. Later in the third quarter, after a mishandled punt, junior Palmer Stokes ran untouched through the WarHawk defense for a 16-yard touchdown, giving Cardinal Newman a 28-6 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Colleton Prep scored a touchdown with just over three minutes to go in the game to get within 16, but the Cardinals recovered the onside kick, and Williams iced the game with his second touchdown, this time from 34 yards out.

Winstead led the team with 100 yards rushing on five carries, followed by Brown with 78 yards and Williams with 64. White led the WarHawks with 81 yards rushing.

Cardinal Newman plays again Friday, September 22, at Ben Lippen.