LocalSportsJournal.com
The Orchard View Cardinals are flying high after a 26-20 upset win over undefeated Kent City on Friday night.
After going undefeated last year and starting 0-5 this season, the Cardinals were able to knock off undefeated Kent City for their first win of the year.
“To get a win is to get a win but to beat an undefeated team at this point in the season, it’s pretty exciting stuff,” OV head coach Fred Rademacher said. “You go in as the underdog and in a sense have nothing to lose and you play hard and come out on top.”
Darius Williams had a big night on the ground for the Eagles scoring on 63- and 65-yard runs to put the Cardinals up 12-6 in the first half. Both PATs were missed after the scores.
Kent City scored before the half to tie the game 12-12 at the break.
Mason Westbrook was able to score quickly for the Eagles in the third quarter to put Kent City up 20-12.
To end the third quarter, Williams added on to his big day with a three-yard touchdown for his third score to bring OV within 20-18.
The Cardinals added another score to take a 26-20 and finish off the upset.
With the win, the Cardinals move to 1-5 on the season, but Rademacher knows how much this win means for his team going forward into the first round of playoffs.
“Not winning the game is rough. It’s rough on everybody in the program and it’s good for our kids, it’s good for me, good for staff, and good for the community (to win),” Rademacher said about his team’s victory on Friday night. “It gives some legitimacy to what we are doing and that it does work.”
Rademacher says getting better every day will help the Cardinals prepare for the playoff game like it is just a normal game.
Westbrook rushed for 174 yards and two scores to lead Kent City. Kent City finishes the regular season 5-1.
