The Cardinal Huskies gave it their best, but it seemed like every time they blinked, the speedy Warriors of Fairview High were running away or right through them, and their opponents claimed a solid 56-20 victory in Chagrin Valley Conference football.
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The Cardinal Huskies gave it their best, but it seemed like every time they blinked, the speedy Warriors of Fairview High were running away or right through them, and their opponents claimed a solid 56-20 victory in Chagrin Valley Conference football.
Cardinal had issues from the start, but it wasn’t until early in the second period that the wheels fell off the Huskies’ cart. Fairview continuously had speedy players making big plays as the Warriors scored three touchdowns in the second and third periods each to blow the game wide open.
The Huskies worked hard, just could not keep up.
Cardinal got the opening kickoff and was stopped, but a penalty gave them a first down on that first drive. Another punt came shortly later, and on the fourth play from scrimmage on their first possession, the Fairview quarterback hit Savijan Harris along the right sideline and outraced the secondary to the end zone on a 54-yard scoring play.
Following an interception of a Cam Ciminello pass, which stopped the next Huskies drive after a pair of first downs, the defense stiffened, forcing a punt.
On their next possession, starting on their own 20 yard line, Cardinal (1-7) had Ciminello hit Dominic Naples on the first play for a 16-yard gain, but the ball was pried loose and, four plays later, after Harris recovered the ball, Burke Lowry found J. R. Beato on a 27-yard pass play for the second score of the night.
LaMarcus Clark went 17 yards, and Beato took another pass from Lowry from 30 yards out, to open a 28-0 lead just before halftime.
It was Senior Night for the Huskies in their last home contest of the season.
Proof of their massive mindset to never let up, Cardinal came back and scored 39 seconds before halftime on a 40-yard pass play from Ciminello to Mason Thistlewaite. He had to break a pair of tackles before breaking away to the end zone.
Beato caught another long pass, this play going from 60 yards out, to start the third period, but Landon Gallagher took a Ciminello pass from 27 yards out to answer, and the battle to avoid a running clock seemed in full gear.
Within 46 seconds of each other, Clark again scored on runs of 50 and 38 yards to bring the running clock. Again, Ciminello hit Thistlewaite, this time from 69 yards away. But a Lowry rush of a single yard with 9:07 to play accounted for the final scoring of the night.
Cardinal Head Coach Rich Turner knew his team was outmanned to begin with.
Late in the first period, on the last play of the quarter, Reese Soltis made a spectacular play to drop Clark for a loss, but a high ankle sprain resulted, forcing Soltis to the bench. The Huskies have lacked depth all season, and could not afford to lose Soltis. They were now out-athleted, but their hearts battled to the very end.
Fairview rolled up 561 yards of offense, with Lowry throwing for 313 and four scores. Clark gained 174 on 13 carries and a trio of touchdowns, too. Beato completed a huge night with seven catches for 150 yards and three scores, as Lowry was sharp, hitting on 15 of 22 passes.
Cardinal hunkered down in the second half and played some power football. Chaise Harris powered his way to 89 yards rushing on nine tries, and Ciminello, who was under constant pressure when he dropped back to pass, still hit on 12 of 29 passes for 208 yards and a trio of scores.
Thistlewaite is only a freshman, but showed great hands, great footwork in breaking tackles, and speed as he caught four passes for 122 yards and two scores for the Huskies.
Heading to the final two games of the season, at Chagrin Falls this week and then at Kirtland, the road looks tough.
Cardinal may well come up short on the scoreboards, but these athletes stand toe to toe with anybody in willingness to play hard on every play.
“We knew this would be a tough night because of Fairview’s speed,” Coach Turner said. “Then, when Reese went down with his high ankle sprain, it became a matter of working on building character more again. The kids are trying their very best, and that is a positive lesson they will need for the rest of their lives, they know it — so we’re just going to keep playing.”
