Looking to bounce back from an 0-1 start to the season, the Clinton Cardinals squared off against the Odessa Bulldogs this past Friday night looking to get into the win column on home turf.
For the Cardinals, who had a slow start set them back in the first half of opening action last week against Butler, getting off to a faster start was an emphasis for this week against an Odessa team riding the momentum of an exciting week one win. To the Cardinals credit, they did just that.
A back-and-forth affair in the first half, the Cardinals were able to keep pace with the Bulldogs through the first two quarters with solid play in the trenches and two scores through the air, with sophomore quarterback Kevin Lafarge tossing a pair of long touchdowns including 33-yard house call to junior running back Carson Roskop, and a 42-yard score over-the-top to junior wide receiver Cameron Mertz.
The Cardinals, carrying momentum from a strong second half from their opening week matchup against Butler, were well on their way by halftime, edged by Odessa through two quarters by a slight 22-14.
Clinton would receive the ball following the intermission. In the second half however, things just didn’t fall the Cardinals way. Putting up just one more score, a 16-yard splash in the fourth quarter from LaFarge to senior wide receiver Emrie Neal, the Cardinals would inevitably fall to Bulldogs, 49-20, who were able to find paydirt four times against the hometown Cardinals in the second half.
Losses always sting, but Clinton has a lot to be proud of in the effort, as they showed fight and strides on both sides of the ball, opening up the offense, and digging in with sound defense from the onset.
The Cardinals (0-2), seek their first win through two contests as they head to Holden this coming week in a tilt against the hometown Eagles (1-1).
Passing: Comp/Att/Yds/TD/Int/Long
#6 K. LaFarge 17/31/224/3/1/42
Rushing: Att/Yds/TD/Long
#25 C. Roskop 8/29/0/7
#6 K. LaFarge 14/23/0/9
#17 C. Mertz 8/22/0/15
Receiving: Rec/Yds/TD/Long
#17 C. Mertz 5/96/1/42
#4 E. Neal 7/69/1/25
#25 C. Roskop 4/51/1/33
Tackles Tk/Asst/Sack/TFL
#17 C. Mertz 6/8/0/0
#54 G. Simmons 5/4/0/1
#4 E. Neal 2/5/0/0
#11 C. Berry 2/1/0/0
