Cardinals surge past Cavaliers
NEW BREMEN — It was all gas and no brakes for the Cardinals on Friday, opening up a 51-0 lead by halftime and cruising to a 58-0 win over Lehman Catholic.
The Cardinals improve to 2-0 on the season.
The tone of the game was set right away, with Lehman Catholic botching a handoff exchange and New Bremen’s Kyle Leichliter being right there to scoop it up, setting up the Cardinals on the 4-yard line.
Colten Muether punched it in one play later and the Cardinals were off and running, leading 7-0 after a made PAT by Owen Gabel.
The Cavaliers went three and out on their second drive and New Bremen didn’t take long to score again.
After a 15-yard run by Dave Homan and a 12-yard run by Muether, Homan found Nick Alig across the middle for a 22-yard touchdown.
Lehman Catholic’s following drive began at their own 26-yard line and New Bremen’s Evan Eyink tackled running back Michael O’Leary for an eight-yard loss on the Cavaliers first play from scrimmage.
On 2nd and 18, Donovan O’Leary’s passed intended for Seth Knapke was picked off by Aaron Thieman, who returned it for a touchdown, putting New Bremen up 21-0.
The Cavaliers had a 7-play drive stall near midfield and punted it back to New Bremen, who took over on their own 20.
Homan wasted little time, running around the right side and outracing everyone on his way to an 80yard touchdown.
New Bremen had its first hiccup of the game near the end of the quarter when Homan’s pass for Alig was intercepted inside the 10-yard line as the Cards were driving.
The Cavaliers weren’t able to capitalize and were forced to punt, but the snap sailed over the punter’s head and New Bremen earned the 2-point safety, making it a 30-0 game.
On the following kick return for the Cardinals, Trevor Bergman returned the ball 58 yards to the Cavaliers 11-yard line.
Muether ran for 10 yards to the 1-yard line and Homan punched it in the endzone on the next play. A made PAT by Gabel made it 37-0.
A Lehman Catholic punt led to more points for the Cardinals on their next drive.
Dylan Bambauer carried it 31 yards to the Cavalier 22-yard line and Muether carried it 16 yards to
the 6-yard line.
Homan completed his hat trick on the next play, rushing for his third touchdown of the game.
Nick Alig picked off O’Leary on Lehman’s next drive and eventually Muether was able to punch it in from five yards out for the score, putting New Bremen up 51-0 before the half.
With a running clock in play for the second half, the Cardinals would muster up one more score.
With 10:35 left in the 4th, Cale Tangeman picked off O’Leary and returned it for a Cardinal touchdown. The PAT by Hayden Zeller made it 58-0, proving to be the final.
Cardinals coach Chris Schmidt said he was happy that his team was able to establish momentum early on in the game.
“We got a couple breaks early on but we did a good job of taking advantage,” said Schmidt. “Sometimes you get breaks and you don’t always capitalize or take advantage. That was huge to kind of establish that right from the get-go.”
The Cardinals defense was flying all over the field Friday night, forcing five total turnovers.
Jonathan Heitkamp led the Cardinals with 4.5 tackles and Evan Eyink added 3.5 tackles, with one for loss and an interception.
“The defense had a heck of a night. Setting up a score, getting two other scores,” said Schmidt. “We have some older kids but we’ve got some kids we’re trying to work in there and get some varsity experience. To see them start to make plays, it will just help to bolster their confidence and really the coaches’ confidence to get them more in there, too.”
Homan led all players Friday with 122 yards on six carries and three touchdowns. Through the air he was 5-of-12 for 73 yards and a touchdown and interception each.
“Dave’s one of our best football players, but he’s still a young quarterback. He still has to learn that position,” said Schmidt. “He’s getting there. I think week by week he’s making improvements. That’s what we need.”
Schmidt compared Homan’s play to that of last year’s starting quarterback, Mitchell Hays.
“Mitchell was the same way. When Mitchell was a junior, he certainly wasn’t what he was when he was a senior,” said Schmidt. “It’s a learning process and I think he took a step in the right direction tonight.”
New Bremen will be back home on Friday taking on Delphos St. John’s at 7 p.m.