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Cardinals Rout Liberty; On to State

WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg-Prescott football team started strong and got stronger, as they easily beat Liberty Spangle, 62-24, in their playoff crossover game at home Friday. The win puts the Cardinals in the state playoffs for the sixth straight year.

The Cards pounced early, with Chance Leroue scoring on a 60 yard run off a screen pass on the second play from scrimmage. On Liberty's first play after the kickoff, WP's Devin Acevedo picked up a fumble and ran it in from the 15 yard line to give WP a 14-0 lead with less than two minutes gone.

The Cardinals took a 14-7 lead into the second quarter and then proceeded to blow the lid off. They scored five more touchdowns before the half, while Liberty managed one field goal. It was 48-10 WP at the intermission.

Travis Crockett and Kobie Brown each scored on running touchdowns. Acevedo then collected his second fumble return for a touchdown, this time from 40 yards out. Talen Larsen connected with Quarterback Jacob Dunn on a 58-yard pass play, and then Leroue scored on a 90-yard catch and run.

The Cardinals' big first half was helped by five Lancer turnovers, including four fumble recoveries and an interception.

"The game was all about big plays," said WP Coach Jeff Bartlow. "We only had five first downs while Liberty had 16."

In the second half, Travis Crockett ran for his second touchdown, and Reseun Crockett rambled for a 72-yard score for the Cardinals in the fourth quarter.

For the game, Dunn was seven of 12 passing for 273 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged nearly 40 yards per completed pass. Chance Leroue caught two passes, both for scores, for a total of 150 yards. Talen Larsen added three pass receptions for 94 yards. Travis Crockett led the team in rushing with five carries for 78 yards and two TDs. Kicker Antonio Benito had a busy night as well, going eight for nine in PAT attempts. His second-quarter miss was only his second of the season.

It was a great day to be a Cardinal," Bartlow said. He added that Michael Grant had 10 tackles and Danny Stansel had nine, to lead the defense.

On Friday, the Cardinals travel to Pasco to take on Tonasket at Chiawanna High School. Game time is 7 p.m.

 

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