Cardinals Tromps T-O-R At Home, 35-0

WAITSBURG --The WP Cardinals finished its second consecutive undefeated league season with a senior night shut-out of the T-O-R Nighthawks, 35-0.

After showering their parents with balloons and flowers, the big red birds took to the field sporting pink socks in recognition of breast cancer awareness month.

The Nighthawks took first possession of the game, but were forced to punt after the WP's defense held them to just 4 yards in three plays.

Slow to start, the Cardinals took its turn punting on their first possession after three incomplete passes.

The next drive would be more successful as WP quarterback Zach Bartlow connected with Justin Zuger for 10 yards and a first down. After a WP false start that put them back 5 yards, Bartlow followed that up with a complete pass to Dustin Wooderchak for 13 yards and one to Dalton Estes for 8 yards and a first down.

Estes once again snagged a Bartlow bullet for 33 yards and the Cardinals first touchdown with 2:25 left in the first quarter. Barajas extra point attempt was good and WP led 7-0.

The Nighthawks found themselves punting once more after Chance Leroue chalked up a solo quarterback sack

The Cardinals began its next drive on their own 41- yard line. A quarterback keeper took them to the Nighthawks 39 to end the first quarter.

After a Nighthawk encroachment penalty that took the Cardinals to the 32-yard line, all hopes of another touchdown drive were ended when Bartlow was caught in the backfield and the Nighthawks took over on downs on their own 43-yard line.

WP's Danny Stansell set the Nighthawks back three yards when he took his turn with a quarterback sack and Justin Zuger got the Cardinals the ball back when he intercepted a Nighthawk's pass on the WP 19-yard line.

After just three short plays, the Cardinals punted the ball right back and the Nighthawks who couldn't do anything with it sent it right back to the Cardinals.

After the Nighthawks punt rolled into the end zone the Cardinals began its next drive on its own 20-yard line.

Bartlow rushed up the middle for 10 yards and a first down. Billy Brown followed that up with a 50-yard scamper of his own, but was called back after WP's Riley Stevens was called for a holding penalty.

Bartlow then connected with Stevens for a short gain, but Stevens was stripped of the ball and the Nighthawks recovered it on its own 37- yard line with 1:44 left in the half.

The Cardinals defense held its own and the Nighthawks punted the ball away.

WP had just over a minute left in the half to make something happen from their 30-yard line.

With just 52 seconds left in the half Brown took a Bartlow pitch up the left side of the field, breaking two tackles before going untouched 61 yards for "another, Cardinal, touchdown."

The extra point attempt hike was sent a little low and holder Dalton Estes snatched it up and pitched it off to Devin Acevedo for a two point conversion and a 15-0 half-time lead.

The third quarter saw a shower of yellow flags that was almost as steady as the rain that was coming down sideways.

Whether it was the slick field or the Nighthawks frustration of remaining scoreless, personal fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct was the third quarter action until Bartlow recovered a bad snap and weaved 30 yards through defenders for a touchdown. With 58 seconds left in the third quarter the Cardinals held a 22-0 lead.

WP's first fourth quarter possession began on their own 47-yard line after another Nighthawk punt.

A Bartlow to Wooderchak combo put the Cardinals on their own 9-yard line. First and goal the fans were caught off guard as the Cardinals had a little fun with senior night lining defensive end Eshom Estes up in the backfield.

Even more amazing was when Bartlow handed the pigskin off to "Mongo" and he carried it four yards up the middle before the Nighthawk defenders stopped him.

"Mongo" wasn't satisfied and he relished in his fifteen minutes of fame after another 5-yard carry put him in the end zone on senior night and put the Cardinals up, 29-0.

Senior lineman Greg Stearns got his chance to shine as running back on the next possession as Bartlow put him in scoring position.

Whether it was the wet pig skin, sloppy ground, or just offensive jitters, Stearns fumbled and recovered the ball and kicked himself all the way to the locker room for slipping up his chance for 7.

The Cardinals scored their final touchdown of the night when Dalton Estes went 11 yards untouched with 2:39 left in the game. Barajas extra point attempt was good and the Cardinals shut out the Nighthawks, 35-0.

"We had a lot of chemistry going on tonight," said WP head coach Jeff Bartlow. "It's exciting to be first and to be heading into the playoffs."

"Tonight was a battle," he said. "They were a physical team and we had a little trouble with containment."

"We decided with going with our passing offense after looking at their tape," said Bartlow. "Zach was throwing high and hard so he's got to soften that up before playoffs."