Cardinals hang on for win over Winnebago

RANDY STUCKENBERG PHOTO Tempo
Stillman Valley QB Chad Gerig hands off to Logan Jennings during the first quarter of their home game against Winnebago on Friday, Sep. 13. Stillman won the game 43-28.

By Doug Schroder
CORRESPONDENT
The Stillman Valley Cardinals went into last Friday’s football game having come off the 18-16 upset win the week before over their Big Northern Conference rival, and then number one state ranked in 2A, Byron Tigers. Stillman Coach Mike Lalor had his team focused and ready for any post big-win let downs, but it didn’t come real easy as the Winnebago Indians put up a good fight, never giving up, before succumbing to the Cardinals 43-35 in the end.
For almost the entire first period of the game the Cardinals and Indians played to a scoreless tie until Cardinal QB Chad Gerig connected with receiver Justin Fischer on a 43-yard pass for a touchdown with just eight seconds to go in the quarter. The PAT by Omar Gallardo was good to make to score 7-0 Cardinals heading into the second quarter.
Winnebago struck next when Indian QB Zach Johnson found receiver Cole Seger open and lobbed a pass good for a 21-yard score. Michael Cunningham’s PAT tied the game up at 7-7.
The two teams remained deadlocked at 7-7 until midway through the second period when Gerig galloped into the end zone on a 21-yard run. Gallardo’s kick was goo and the Cardinals were up 14-7.
The Cardinals again pulled of a last-second quarter score when Logan Jennings chugged across the goal line with just 22 seconds left in the period to give the Cardinals a 20-7 lead. Gallardo’s kick on the PAT was no good, making it 20-7 Cardinals at the half.
Winnebago hung tough in the third period not allowing another Cardinals score until midway through the period when Jennings tallied on a four-yard rush at the 8:22 mark. Luke Frost ran in the two-point conversion and the Indians found themselves in a 28-7 hole.
Winnebago didn’t give up though. QB Zach Johnson completed a 23-yard pass to receiver Larson Garrigan for the touchdown at the 4:55 mark in the third period. Cunningham’s PAT was good and the score was now 28-14 Cardinals.
The Cardinals wasted no time in getting that score back when on the ensuing kick-off Chase Duffy took the ball at the 13-yard line and proceeded 87 yards downfield to paydirt. Gallardo’s PAT was good putting the Cardinals back up by 21 points, 35-14.
Each team would score again before the third period was over.
Winnebago’s Micah Gearhart busted loose for a 58-yard scamper. The two-point conversion by Johnson was no good, making the score 35-20 Cardinals.
Stillman’s last tally of the third period came on a Devin Wills 65-yard touchdown run. Luke Frost ran again for a successful two-point conversion and the Cardinals were up 43-20 heading into the fourth period.
The Cardinals would need that cushion as Winnebago kept coming at them, scoring twice in the final period.
Johnson connected again with Garrigan, this time from eight yards out. The two-point conversion pass from Johnson to Ethan Ackerman was good to bring the Indians a little closer at 28-43.
Johnson connected one last time on the night when Seger took a pass into the end zone from 10 yards out with 1:01 to play in the game. Cunningham’s PAT kick was good, bringing the Indians to within eight points at 35-43.
The Indians would come no closer as the Cardinals hung on to win the Big Northern Conference battle.
The Cardinals are now 3-0 on the season and will play their Homecoming game against Rock Falls this Friday.
Winnebago falls to 1-2 on the season and will take on the Rockford Lutheran Crusaders at home on Friday.