MIDDLEFIELD—Cardinal averaged nearly 10 yards per play and scored nine touchdowns of 22 yards or more in beating visiting Pymatuning Valley on Friday, 60-14.
The Huskies, who improved to 1-1, amassed 458 yards of offense on just 46 plays and allowed just 124 on defense.
“Our kids played well up and down the roster,” said Cardinal coach Eric Cardinal. Everyone on the team got into this one and the freshmen were as intense as the starters. I was glad to see the younger guys pitch a shutout in the second half.”
Cardinal’s domination started early as Tyson Sinclair broke a 58-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter. Brice Hogue then ran for a 33-yard score.
Matt Carney made it 20-0 with his 33-yard touchdown pass to Dari DeCaro. Hogue added a 25-yard scoring run to push Cardinal’s lead to 27-0.
Pymatuning temporarily halted Cardinal’s momentum with a 37-yard touchdown pass but the Lakers came up short on their two-point try.
Carney, who finished 6-of-6 passing for 170 yards and three touchdown passes, hooked up with Sinclair on a 34-yard touchdown pass to close out the second quarter with the Huskies on top, 34-6. He then hit DeCaro on a 59-yard touchdown pass to push the Cardinal lead to 47-6.
Sinclair added a 22-yard touchdown run and Casey Horner broke a 25-yard scoring run to put the Huskies on top, 54-6.
Pymatuning scored on a 10-yard run and added a two-point conversion to leave the score at 54-14 at halftime.
Seth Peters scored on a 25-yard run in the fourth quarter to close out the scoring.
Sinclair led the Cardinal rushing attack with 92 yards on four carries and two scores and he recorded two interceptions on defense. Hogue finished with four carries for 72 yards and two touchdowns. Horner added 42 yards and a score on six carries.
DeCaro was Carney’s favorite target in the passing game as he caught four passes for 127 yards with the two touchdowns. He also picked off a pass.
“Our running game was hitting on all cylinders and I’ve really got to credit our offensive line tonight,” Cardinal said. “Matt Carney was outstanding at QB tonight. He made the right reads and spun the ball very well.”
Cardinal travels to Grand Valley on Friday.
