The Staples Motley Cardinals, for the third time this season, combined a capable offense with a hard knocking defense to claim a convincing 46-6 win Friday, Sept. 18 in their first home game this year.

Quart erback Alex Jansson passed for two touchd owns and ran the ball for three scores as the team piled up 505 yards on the field against the Pelican Rapids Vikings.

Jansson completed nine of 16 passes for 148 yards. Jason Johnson caught one for 22 yards for the Cardinals first TD in the first quarter, while Seth Haaland's nine yard catch in the third quarter put the score at 38-0.

Fullback Cody Hoemberg did not score, but carried the ball 16 times for 104 yards, picking up several of the team's 15 rushing first downs.

"Our bread and butter is the veer triple option," Coach Ryan Beachy said, which has been the case both before and during his coaching tenure. "It gives three kids the chance to be the running threat. We had (Brandon) Wing at East Grand, Alex (Jansson) at West Central and now Cody against Pelican all pick up good yardage. One of our goals this year is to have three 1,000 yard rushers."

It takes four It took four Pelican Rapids players to stop Cardinal Cody Hoemberg on this play in the Cards first home game of the season Friday. Hoemberg, who carried the ball 16 times for 106 yards, often dragged two or more defenders the last yard or two. The Cards will host Thief River Falls this Friday night in the homecoming game. (Staples World photo by Ken Klose) Wing scored the team's second TD at the beginning of the second quarter, taking a pitch from Jansson on a play that started from 25 yards out. Jansson then added the first to his three TD's, as he scored from the 15 on his first score, from the 34 yard line on the Cardinals first possession of the second half and then, early in the final period, carrying the ball in from the six yard line.

"He was supposed to hand it off on the last one, but the back was too wide," Beachy said. He added Jansson's totals for the first three games have to be in double figures. (27 carries for 281 yards, 10.4 ave.).

The Vikings were kept in check throughout the game by the Cardinal defense, which has been dominating all season. Assistant Coach Erik Johnson's defense has given up just two touchdowns, one of them by the varsity, in three games. They allowed Pelican just 105 yards of offense, 77 rushing and 29 on passes.

Tough defense The Staples Motley defense has been a key factor in the team's three wins this season. Pelican Rapids Viking Alex Klovstad found himself surrounded by defensive backs Alex Jansson (8), Brandon Wing (22) and a third unidentified Cardinal. The defense has given up just two touchdowns in its first three games. (Staples World photo by Ken Klose) Jared Cleveland got his second pass interception of the season against Pelican, while Seth Haaland and Ryan Detloff each got quarterback sacks and Haaland dropped on a Viking fumble.

Leading tacklers for the defense against Pelican were Cody Hoemberg with nine, Lance Flickinger six, Dylan Shequen five, Detloff with five and Jansson and Haaland, each with four tackles.

For the three games played, Hoemberg has 21 tackles and Lance Flickinger has 19; with Shequen (15), Detloff (14) and Jansson (12) all in double figures.

Looking downfield Cardinal quarterback Alex Jansson looked for one of his receivers early in the Cards 46-7 win over Pelican Rapids. (Staples World photo by Ken Klose) This week the Cardinal homecoming game could find the squad facing its toughest test so far this year with the Thief River Falls Prowlers coming to Staples Motley. They are 2-1, having lost 46-14 to Perham with wins over Crookston (19-3) and Park Rapids (42-13).

"Perham capitalized on mistakes TRF made, picking up some fumbles," Beachy said. Coach Jeff Mumm's team has a very strong running game, running a lot of dives and counter plays, but seldom passes the ball.

The Cardinals last week were the 10th rated team in the state coach's poll of Class AAA teams, will not meet the No. 2 rated team, Perham, on this year's regular schedule. However, both teams are in the Section 8AAA. Perham has defeated Pelican (32-0) TRF and Crookston (33-6).

Currently, Perham is 3-0 with 34 points, Staples Motley is second with 32 points, TRF is third with 30, Pequot Lakes (2-1) 27 points; Crookston (1-2) 24 points; East Grand (1-2) 22 points, Park Rapids (1-2) 22 points and Roseau (0-3) 16 points.

Football results

Staples Motley 46, Pelican Rapids 7

Team statistics:

First downs: SM 18 (3 passing, 15 rush); PR 9 (1 pass, 6 rush, 2 pen.)

Rushing: SM 40/357; PR 37/77 yards;

Passing: SM 17 att./ 9 comp./148 yards; PR 3/15 29 yards;

Fumbles/rec: SM 4/3; PR 1/0 Penalties: SM 11/95; PR 8/40

Individual Statistics

Rushing: SM Cody Hoemberg 16/107; Dylan Hales 2/14; Alex Jansson 6/86; Brandon Wing 6/54; Gavin Kadlec 1/2; Brandon Flickinger 5/47; Blake Petrich 2/26; Taylor Bendson 2/21.

Passing: Alex Jansson: 117/9/189/0 Intc

Receiving: Dylan Hales 5/92; Jason Johnson 2/39; Tanner Roberts 1/8; Seth Haaland 1/9.

Defensive Stats: (Pel. Rapids game)

Sacks: (2) Ryan Detloff, Seth Haaland.

Int. (1) Jared Cleveland

Fumble rec.: (1) Haaland

Tackles: Cody Hoemberg 9, Lance Flickinger 6, Dylan Shequen 5, Detloff 5, Alex Jansson 4, Haaland 4; Brandon Wing 3, Dylan Kylander 3; Jason Johnson, Tanner Roberts, Blake Petrich, Austin Redemske (all two ); Cody Drone, Tyler O'Brien, Cody Shaffer, David Deyonge, Logan Swendsrud, Chad Beebe, Ryan Carter (all one).

Tackles (three game total) Hoemberg 21, L. Flickinger 19, Shequen15, Detloff 14, Jansson 12, Haaland 9, Wing 8, Jason Johnson 5, Roberts 4, Cleveland, Carter, Redemske, Kylander, all with 3; Deyonge, Swendsrud, Kadlec, Rob Warner, Chad Beebe, all two.