The Cardinal Football team was off to a great start this past week. They faced teams from Melrose, Minnewaska, Holdingford and Mound West Tonka in a scrimmage last Saturday. The defense proved strong, giving up just three touchdowns all day, with two of those coming against the JV defense.

Coach Ryan Beachy said that the varsity and JV teams had a great day, “With the varsity defense not getting a lot of work in practice during these two weeks I was wondering how it would go but they did good work. The JV kids also did a tremendous job going against the varsity offense of those teams.”

On the offensive side the Cardinal coaches have been implementing quite a few new things.

“The kids have learned so much these past weeks and I think that some of them are surprised at our ability to do so many

different plays and formations at this

point in the season,” Beachy commented. “We struggled with some of the timing on a

couple of the formations but have already this week been working hard to correct those mistakes. I have a lot of confidence in this group of kids right now.”

The junior varsity boys got challenged against the Holdingford and Melrose varsity teams, but proved up to the challenge.

“I heard many good comments from the other coaches from those two teams,” Beachy said. Many of the JV players will be fighting for playing time on the varsity field, “which is great for them and exciting for the team because it will push others to strive for even more.”

Coming up this week the team will travel to Pequot Lakes on Thurs., Sept, 2, to face the 2009, section champs in the regular season opener at 7:30 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 2