Cardinal Football Win in Triple Overtime

WAITSBURG — A three-hour drive, penalties, a fumble late in the fourth quarter, and a triple overtime made for one of the craziest games Coach Kiefel has coached.

 It started rough for the Cardinals as several calls kept the team from making anything happen in the first quarter. The Lyle-Wishram Cougars scored six points in the first quarter before Waitsburg woke up and scored 14 points in the second and 14 points in the third.  

 With the Cardinals up 28-22 with less than two minutes left in the fourth quarter, Waitsburg fumbled on the 40-yard line. The cougars recovered the ball and tied the score, sending the game into overtime.  The L/W team plays under Oregon rules, so going into overtime was new for the Cardinals.  

Under overtime rules, each team got three possessions from the 25-yard line to score.  Unanswered scores would end the game.  If neither team scores, then each team would have three possessions at the 10-yard line.

 Waitsburg played offense first and made a quick score and conversion.  The Cougars then scored and completed a conversion.  In the second round, both teams were stopped by defense.  Finally, at 10:15 p.m., the Cardinals scored a touchdown and a conversion and stopped the Cougars with an interception by Martin Vasquez to end the game in the third overtime.  The final score was 44-36.

 The Cardinals sacked the Cougar quarterback ten times during the game.  Tucker Hamilton had nine solos and 17 assisted tackles and sacked the quarterback.  Koyen Fortune had eight solo and four assisted tackles and sacked the quarterback four times.  Jarod Hankins had seven solo and 15 assisted tackles and tackled the quarterback four times.  Victor Whitmore also was credited with a sack.

 The Cardinals play Dayton in Waitsburg on Friday, September 27.  Game time is 7 p.m., so come out, wear your red, and fill the stands to cheer the Cardinals to victory.