The Cardinals lost to Ottawa for the first time since 2016 Friday night as the Cyclones took down the Cardinals 17-14.
Head coach Drew Steffen said the fight was there for the team, but Ottawa just played the better game.
“Credit to Ottawa and coach [Walt] Alexander. They did an awesome job. Had a great, great game plan on defense, they flew around the football, and then they took opportunities when we made mistakes,” Steffen said.
The loss put a damper on the celebrations for homecoming, but senior Matthew Magette said the team will continue to push forward.
“We’re not going to let this dwell on us. We’re going to make some improvements. We’re going to tweak some things. We’re going to fix some things,” Magette said.
The Cyclones came out the gates hot as they scored on an 11-play drive to open the game and put the Cardinals in a 7-0 hole. Ottawa converted on three third downs to keep the drive moving.
After the Cardinals were forced to punt on their opening drive, the defense came back out and forced a three and out.
The Cyclones punter dropped the snap deep in his own territory, and Magette tackled him to set up the Cardinals at the Ottawa 19-yardline.
Sophomore Braedon Speer helped put the Cardinals inside the 5-yardline by dragging defenders on back-to-back runs.
Filling in for junior Errol Siemon, Speer said he wanted to prove that he can handle a heavy workload this game.
“I knew I had to set something up for myself. Make a name, so coach will trust me more,” Speer said. “So I can be reliable, and coach can see me as dependable. So whenever Errol needs a break, I can go in, I can fill in for him.”
As the first quarter expired, senior Kole Manley hit senior Adrion Seals on a fade route to tie the game at seven.
After the teams traded three and outs, Ottawa put together another drive that saw them convert multiple third downs of 10 or more yards.
The Cardinals held Ottawa to a field goal, though, making the score 10-7 heading into the break.
The Cardinals had just 54 yards of total offense and two first downs in the first half.
Magette said the offensive struggles were a bunch of little mistakes coming together.
“We got to be assignment sound. We got to do what the play says. We got to get set and we got to do what’s on the play,” he said. “It’s just minor things.”
On the first play of Ottawa’s second drive out of halftime, the Cardinals forced a fumble and junior Silvestre Janovec recovered.
Moments later, Manley took off on a 38-yard touchdown run making it 14-10 in favor of the Cardinals.
The Cardinals forced Ottawa to punt on the ensuing possession, but started their drive on their own 6-yardline.
On the third play of the series, Manley fumbled and Ottawa was set up in the red zone.
Cyclones quarterback Zetan Vink scored on a 6-yard touchdown run to open the fourth quarter, putting the Cardinals down three.
After the score, Speer helped the offense get moving with a couple of first down runs, and Manley tacked on another first down on a third and short.
Ottawa’s defense stepped up on the next set of downs, however, with a tackle for loss on first and 10, and a run for minimal yards on second and long.
The Cardinals were in field goal range for the crucial third and long play, but a penalty pushed them back and negated any chance of a field goal should they not convert the third down.
Manley’s pass to junior Braeden Vandonge went incomplete, setting up fourth and long.
On the biggest play of the game, Manley hit senior Braylen Hoobler on a wheel route, but Hoobler was marked just short of the first down. They needed 18 yards, but only got 17.
Ottawa would run out the clock to give the Cardinals back-to-back home losses for the first time in three years.
The Cardinals are on the road for the next three games.
Senior Thomas Cromer said he is excited to see the team charged up for each of the upcoming road games.
“I think the energy we bring to road games is awesome,” Cromer said. “The energy at home is, you know, the town, everyone’s here. They’re already bringing the energy. But for road games, we bring the energy and I think we’re actually really well at it.”
Now 2-2 on the season, the Cardinals battle Louisburg at 7 p.m. Friday.
Watch the Kaw Valley State Bank post-game show to hear more from Speer, Magette, Cromer and Steffen.
Reach reporter Jack Denebeim at [email protected]
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