Injuries and Eagles ground Cardinals

Ryan Sherlock (9) breaks a tackle on a long run. Photo by Jim Marczesky

Richard Winn 12

Cardinal Newman 0

By George Kaupp

William Ladd ran for 199 yards and two touchdowns and picked off three passes as the Richard Winn Eagles ruined Homecoming for the Cardinal Newman Cardinals, winning 12-0.

The biggest story of the night was not the outstanding running by Ladd but rather the injuries suffered by the Cardinals. Defensive stalwarts Giacomo Ray and Greg Regan were both injured in the first quarter, leaving an undermanned defense to try to stop the Eagles' number ten.

The Cardinals played well, picking off a Ladd pass to stop one drive and recovering two fumbles late in the game. However, the loss of the two linebackers, and starting quarterback, Jones Brown, out because of an injury suffered in last week's game against Hammond, was too much to overcome.

Cardinal Newman began the night well, driving 46 yards in nine plays on the game's opening drive but came up with no points when Collins Harper missed a field goal. After an Eagle interception and a Cardinal punt, Richard Winn got on the board early in the second quarter with Ladd weaving his way through the Cardinals for a 24-yard touchdown. The extra point was blocked, and the Eagles led 6-0.

Thomas Winstead tries to break free. Photo by Jim Marczesky

Ryan Sherlock re-turned the ensuing kickoff 63 yards to the Eagle 30. Junior Palmer Stokes, playing quarterback in place of Brown, attempted to rally the Cardinals but threw the first of his three interceptions to Ladd ending what turned out to be the best scoring chance of the night for Cardinal Newman. At the half, it was 6-0, Richard Winn.

After forcing the Eagles to punt to begin the second half, the Cardinals began another march down the field only to lose a fumble at the Richard Winn 35. It took six plays for the Eagles to capitalize with Ladd rumbling the final 49 yards on the second play of the fourth quarter to give the Eagles a 12-0 lead. From there, the teams exchanged turnovers the rest of the way, and the Cardinal fans went home disappointed.

Cardinal homecoming queen, Stacey Schaeffer (front). Photo by Jim Marczesky

As for the homecoming activities, Miss Stacy Schaefer won both the "Miss Sweetheart" award, voted on by the football players, and Homecoming Queen.

The Cardinals host Augusta Christian Friday, October 13.