WP Douses Rockets

PILOT ROCK-The WP Cardinals were at it again last Friday night in Pilot Rock blasting the Rockets with a 60-14 non-league victory.

It took a little more than the 65 seconds it took last week to get the Cardinals up and going, but once they started, they didn't stop.

The Cardinals offense ended the night with 583 yards, with the defense holding the Rockets to just four first downs and 124 yards total offense.

"We started out kind of flat footed for whatever reason," said WP head coach Jeff Bartlow. "Our guys were dropping balls and we were just a little frustrated."

With 4 minutes left in the first quarter, quarterback Zach Bartlow took matters into his own hands and ended an 84 yard offensive drive with a 37-yard touchdown run. Jose Barajas' extra point attempt was good and the Cardinals were on the board, 7-0.

The Rockets took possession and ran 5:41 off the clock, only to turn the ball over on downs, and the Cardinals took over on their own 27 yard line.

With their passing game struggling, Bartlow and running back Billy Brown went to work moving the ball and the chain gang down the field.

The drive ended with 8:44 left in the second quarter when Bartlow connected with freshman Devin Acevedo for a 40 yard touchdown pass giving Acevedo a huge grin and his first touchdown of his high school career.

And the scoring spree began. On the Cardinals next possession, Bartlow ran it in from nine yards out, but the Cardinals' two point conversion failed and the big red birds were up, 20-0.

The Rockets next possession saw the end zone when Logan Thorne caught a 67 yard pass for six, but Cardinal Eshom Estes came flying off the line and blocked the extra point kick leaving the Rockets trailing, 6-20.

With 1:13 remaining in the half, the Cardinals answer back when Bartlow connects with Dalton Estes for a 65 yard touchdown pass, count the extra point and WP leads Pilot Rock 27-6 at the half.

The Cardinals end the opening drive of the second half when Bartlow found Dustin Wooderchak for a 5 yard touchdown pass widening the gap, 34-6.

The Rockets next possession left them in a fourthand 24pickle, leaving them in a punt situation deep in their own territory. WP had Dalton Estes in the backfield for coverage, but none was needed. WP's Tucker Alleman grabbed his piece of the action blocking the Rockets punt and putting the Cardinals on the Rockets nine-yard line.

The Cardinals found the end zone once again when Brown took a Bartlow handoff nine yards for a 41-6 Cardinal lead.

With the fourth quarter beginning, the JV squad was once again given a chance to shine on varsity, and that they did.

With 7:02 remaining, second string quarterback Sterling Eastman connected with Barajas for a 12-yard touchdown giving them a surge of confidence and a 48-6 lead.

The Rockets had an answer to that when Thorne ran the kickoff back 88 yards to the Cardinals four-yard line, and then followed with a touchdown scamper to narrow the gap, 14-48.

The Cardinals then sent Chance Leroue running 67 yards to the end zone for six, and another freshman scored his first high school touchdown.

The Cardinals lit up the board one last time when Dalton Larue took a pitch 20 yards with 59 seconds left in the game, leaving the WP Cardinals with a 60-14 victory over the Pilot Rock Rockets.

"I'm happy that the offensive line picked it up tonight," said coach Bartlow. "They protected Zach and we played a lot better up front. That was the key to victory tonight."

Zach Bartlow had another outstanding night throwing 16/25 for 216 yards and rushing 112 yards on five carries with five touchdowns.

Brown rushed 87 yards on nine carries with one touchdown and Dalton Estes tallied seven receptions for 103 yards with one touchdown.

Acevedo had three receptions for 58 yards and Eastman had two carries for 55 yards.

The Cardinals are now 2-0 on the season and play in Elgin Friday, Sept. 16 at 7p.m.