WP’s Boys Of Fall Remain Undefeated

WAITSBURG -- The WP Cardinals scored on every first-half possession to send the Brewster Bears into hibernation for the year with a 48-7 rainy-day victory last Saturday.

The Bears took the opening kickoff and began its first drive on its own 30-yard line. Two short carries and an off-sides call on the Cardinal defense helped them to a first down, but a quarterback sack from Cardinal Brenddon Donovan put the Bears in a punting situation from its own 42-yard line .

T he Cardinals opening drive began with Billy Brown exploding off the line for a 63- yard touchdown run, but an illegal block to the back was called on the Cardinals and the touchdown would be brought back to the Bears 19-yard line.

After a short gain of three on first and 10, Zach Bartlow lit up the board for the Cardinals from 16-yards out. Jose Barajas extra point attempt was good and the Cardinals were up 7-0 with8:19 left in the first.

The Bears next drive was short lived as Bartlow stripped the ball away from the Bears on WP's 48-yard line on second down.

Three plays later the Cardinals found themselves in the end zone once again after a 37- yard run from Brown and an 11-yard touchdown scamper from Bartlow. Barajas extra point attempt went wide and the Cardinals had a 13-0 lead with 6:12 left in the first.

The Bears just could not stand up to the Cardinal defense as the birds once again broke through the line and swarmed quarterback Easton Driessen.

Driessen had nowhere to go as he was pushed back for a loss of eight by the flock of Cardinals and the Bears punted the ball away from its own 30-yard line.

WP's next drive began on its own 32-yard line. An 18- yard run from Bartlow and a 5-yard reception from Justin Zuger and a 9-yard run from Brown would set the Cardinals up for 1st and 10 on the Bears' 36-yard line.

A 26-yard run from Brown ended the first quarter and set the Cardinals up for first and goal on the 8-yard line.

Five seconds into the second quarter Bartlow quickly found Dalton Estes in the end zone and the Cardinals extended its lead to 19-0.

Once again the Bears kicker would be the focus of the offense as they punted the ball away after just three plays and 6 yards.

The Cardinals began its drive with back to back receptions from Estes for 52 yards and a Devin Acevedo reception that took the Cardinals to the 5-yard line.

WP's offensive lineman Eshom Estes was once again moved to the backfield for another shot at a touchdown, but "Mongo" was stopped just shy of the goal line by three Bear defenders. Bartlow scooted to the outside and run the ball across the line and put the Cardinals up 26-0 with 5:51 left in the half.

After just 4 yards of Bear offense, the Cardinals took over on downs after Driessen fumbled a high snap on the WP 40-yard line.

Bartlow found Dustin Wooderchak for a 14-yard reception and Brown followed it up an 8-yard run to set up Wooderchak with an 18-yard touchdown reception to give the Cardinals a 33-0 lead with 2:47 left in the half.

The Bears' final shot of putting some points on the board in the first half was denied by none other than Justin Zuger. Once again, he picked off the opposing quarterback and ran the pigskin to the Bears' 19-yard line, giving the Cardinals one last chance to light up the board in the first half, and that's exactly what they did.

Bartlow and Brown combined for four carries and 19 yards and Barajas' extra point attempt was good to give the Cardinals a commanding 41-0 halftime lead.

The second half was played with a running clock, which made the steady rain fall a little more bearable, but made the field sloppy.

The Cardinal varsity began the second half despite the hurting the team had put on the Bears during the first half. WP coach Jeff Bartlow was on a mission to get his second Cardinal of the season -- his 1000 yards rushing for the season.

Brown sealed the deal after just three more carries to open the second half and the remaining Cardinal fans erupted with joy as Brown joined Zach Bartlow in the 1000-yard club.

Just to put some icing on the cake, Brown added a 19- yard touchdown run and Barajas' extra point attempt was good and the Cardinals were in total control with a 48-0 lead over the Bears with 4:51 left in the third.

The younger boys of fall took over to finish off the Bears. A little cold coming off the bench, it took a while for the youngsters to find a groove and the Bears took the opportunity to put one in the end zone and light up the board with 11:51 left in the game.

The Cardinals had the opportunity for one last touchdown when Owen Lanning pitched the pigskin off to James Thompkins who ran it across the goal line from 28 yards out.

Unfortunately, a holding call brought the ball back and the younger guys had to wait another day to light up the varsity board.

The Cardinals finished the day with Bartlow completing eight of 14 passes for 114 yards and 312 yards rushing. Billy Brown lead the pack with 207 yards on 15 carries.

"The line did some work today," said Brown. "I love this feeling, to be a junior and break 1000 yards. It feels good to come back after a year off to a winning team that I love."

"I'm not done though," said Brown. "Now it's time to catch Kris Cady's record."

"We are in a great position to do something really amazing," head coach Bartlow told his players. "It's important that you all enjoy the win, but do your best to stay healthy, we still have work to do."

The Cardinals continue its bid for the dome next Saturday against the Lind/Ritzville Broncos.

As of press time, the game is scheduled for a noon kickoff at Edgar Brown Stadium in Pasco.