Cardinals Continue Fight, Drop To 0-3 With Loss To Eagles

Posted

Clinton Cardinals Football (0-2) traveled to Holden this past Friday for their first road trip of the season against the Eagles (1-1).
The Cardinals, who have shown toughness and grit while coming up short through the first to contests of the young season entered Friday still in search of that all-important first win, while hoping to hand the Eagles their second loss in two weeks.
Kicking the game off with strong defensive effort early, the Cardinals were able to blank the hometown Eagles through the first quarter. Holden in return blanked the Cardinals, with neither team finding paydirt until the Cardinals broke through in the second quarter with a 38-yard strike from running-back Carson Roskop to senior WR Emrie Neal, who found the endzone for the second straight week. The ensuing kick would be missed, and the Cardinals would lead the Eagles in the second.
Holden would respond, breaking their own drought with a 15-yard scamper on the ground, followed up with a successful extra point attempt. With this score, Holden would carry the lead into half-time against the Cardinals, up the slimmest of margins 7-6.
For the Cardinals, who have now put together two consecutive strong first -half performances, they entered the break in position to win. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, it was not to be on Friday night.
The Eagles, who were held to one score through two quarters early, found their rhythm scoring once on the ground and twice through the air in the third quarter, expanding their lead as they held the Cardinals offense at bay, bringing the score to 28-6.
Holden would break a 34-yard run in the fourth for another score before the Clinton offense would get back on the board with a spectacular 73-yard connection from sophomore quarterback Kanden Lafarge to junior wide-receiver Payton Sales. Ultimately, adding another score on the ground with a 5-yard dash in the late fourth quarter, Holden would hold on to send the Cardinals to (0-3) by a final score of 40-12.
Despite the loss, the Cardinals once again showed improvement along with the ability to start strong. There’s talent and attitude to this team. Expect them to put together another strong effort next week when the Cardinals (0-3) head back home to take on Pleasant Hill (3-0) in which they’ll look to blemish the Roosters perfect record through three games.

Clinton Cardinals Stat Leaders (vs Holden):

Offense