Cardinals fall to Spring Hill in tight matchup

Turnovers and penalties proved costly for the Cardinals in the team’s 31-28 loss to Spring Hill Friday night.

The Cardinals lost the turnover battle 2-0 and had 12 penalties that cost the team 97 yards.

The penalties were a problem for the Cardinals’ special teams unit in particular as there was a penalty on four of the team’s six kickoff returns. The bad field position really hurt the Cardinals in the trenches, head coach Drew Steffen said.

“We’re starting on the 10, or on the 15, where we need to be starting on the 20, 25 [yardline],” Steffen said. “Those extra plays just kind of wore us down up front, and then, you know, those guys were asked to go turn around and play defense.”

Steffen said the penalties on special teams were a mix of having a young unit and just going against a good football team, but he didn’t seem worried this will be a trend going forward.

“It’s part of 4A football. We can’t ask our guys to play every snap, so we got to sprinkle some guys in on special teams and they do everything we ask,” Steffen said. “We’re going to get better. We’re going to get this coached up, and we’ll be good to go.”

Despite starting the game with a penalty on the opening kickoff return, the Cardinals were able to get on the board first.

The Cardinals’ opening series took nearly nine minutes of the first quarter and totaled 93 yards after senior quarterback Kole Manley hit senior Adrion Seals for a 28-yard touchdown to give the team a 6-0 lead.

Even though they scored, the Cardinals lost a major contributor to their offense on their first drive as junior Errol Siemon left with an injury and did not return to the game.

Manley said it was tough to lose Siemon, but the offense still had a job to do.

“We’ve always had the mentality of next man up, and [sophomore] Braedon Speer stepped in great, filled his role to the best of his abilities,” Manley said. “We just got to keep moving forward.”

Speer had 17 carries for 88 yards in relief of Siemon.

After trading possessions, Spring Hill’s offense started to get going as Broncos senior running back Colton McKanna scored his first touchdown of the night to put Spring Hill ahead 7-6.

But the Cardinals came right back with a touchdown of their own as Manley took off for a 65-yard touchdown run with about 5:30 left in the first half.

Manley would hit Speer on a pass to convert the two-point play after the touchdown to make it 14-7.

Manley said the big play gave the team some mojo back before halftime.

“We were down when it happened. I feel like it just gave us a little energy back before halftime,” he said.

About two minutes later though, McKanna led the Broncos back to the endzone where he scored his second touchdown from 1-yard out to tie the game.

A penalty on the ensuing kickoff return pushed the Cardinals back to their own 8 yardline.

A couple of plays later, the Cardinals’ first costly turnover occurred when Manley and senior Wyatt Summers would fumble on a pitch play.

The Broncos would capitalize on the mistake as McKanna scored again to put the team up 21-14 at halftime.

Out of the break, the Cardinals defense stepped up to force a three and out, which set up the team in good field position.

Seals would score a 40-yard touchdown to tie the game back up at 21 a few plays later.

Seals gave credit to the offensive line for freeing him up on the big play.

“The linemen upfront, you know, I’m not doing nothing without them and everyone else getting the blocks,” he said.

McKanna would continue to be a thorn in the Cardinals’ side as he opened the ensuing Broncos possession with back-to-back first down runs, and then finished it with his fourth touchdown on the night.

McKanna finished the game with 36 carries for 341 yards and the four touchdowns.

Steffen said McKanna was a stud from start to finish Friday night and gave credit to Spring Hill for executing their game plan.

“They’re a team in 5A that if they can do what they did tonight and run the football and give their defense an opportunity to make stops, they’re going to be a good football team in 5A,” Steffen said.

Now down 28-21 heading into the fourth quarter, the Cardinals were faced with a crucial third down to keep a drive going that had a chance to end in points.

However, Manley threw a pass behind an outbreaking Seals that a Spring Hill defender intercepted and nearly returned for a touchdown.

The crucial mistake led to the Broncos extending their lead to 10 after they made a 27-yard field goal.

Once again, penalties pushed back the Cardinals and it made it hard for them to get moving on offense at a time when they needed to move the ball.

Due to the penalties, the Cardinals faced a third and 19 play about midway through the fourth quarter.

Manley hit Seals on a deep play to convert and give the Cardinals some life late in the game.

Seals said the play was a great example of the trust he and Manley have together.

“He’s my day one. Ever since we was little, he’s been there for me. I got his back, and he’s got mine. We trust each other and that’s what makes it so good,” Seals said.

Seals had seven catches for 109 yards and a touchdown against the Broncos.

A few plays later, Manley scored on a quarterback sneak to put the Cardinals down by just three.

Manley had 124 passing yards, 93 rushing yards and three total touchdowns on the night.

The Cardinals could not recover the onside kick, which set up Spring Hill for a chance to run out the clock if they got a couple of first downs.

Riding McKanna, the Broncos offense was able to do just that and put the game away.

Despite the loss, Manley said he was proud of how the team fought all the way to the end against a good Spring Hill team.

“Our guys competed their butts off,” Manley said. “I’m really proud of our guys because there was no quit. We got down early, but there was no quit in our guys and we came out in that second half and battled all the way to the end.”

Steffen said he thinks the Cardinals will have a new sense of urgency after suffering their first loss on the season.

“This is one of those losses that we’re going to build from. We’re going to respond,” Steffen said. “I think the tempo in practice is going to increase. I think the urgency with watching film, the urgency to get better. It’s just, it’s one of those things that you need, you know?”

The team takes on Ottawa at 7 p.m. Friday for the team’s homecoming game.

Watch the Kaw Valley State Bank post-game show to hear more from Manley, Seals and Steffen about the game against Spring Hill.

Reach reporter Jack Denebeim at [email protected].

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