The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

ROSALIA-The Waitsburg Cardinals traveled to Rosalia to play the Tekoa-Rosalia Timberwolves on Friday, September 22. Though the Rosalia team, led by RB Isaac Bone and QB Westley Bryan, made some impressive plays, the Cards took the lead early, shutting out the Timberwolves by halftime.

Waitsburg won the toss and deferred, kicking to Tekoa-Rosalia. It was three and out with a sack by Senior Ruben Yutzy, and the Cardinals took over. Waitsburg Sophomore Brenton Segraves gained four yards on his first carry and then broke out for a 37-yard TD. Sophomore QB Isaias Reyes ran the 2-point conversion, and the score was 8-0.

Timberwolves Junior QB Westley Bryan ran a QB-sneak for a 65-yard TD. An incomplete 2-point conversion made the score 8-6.

The Cardinals answered with two back-to-back touchdowns. The first was set up with a 48-yard run by Senior Cyson Morris, followed by an 8-yard pass completion from Reyes.

After the Timberwolves defense sacked Reyes for a loss of yards and caused an incomplete pass, Segraves followed with a 3-yard gain, and Reyes ran for 8 yards, giving the Cardinals their second touchdown. Senior Blake French went in for the 2-point conversion.

Yuzty recovered his onside kick on the 49-yard line, denying the Timberwolves a chance to answer.

First and 10 Cardinals ball, Morris took the ball down the field for a 51-yard touchdown. A completion to Freshman JJ Gleason for the 2-point conversion. The Cardinals led 24-6 with time left in the first quarter.

Yuzty tried for the onside kick, which Tekoa Rosalia recovered. Ryan made a 10-yard pass to Freshman Isaac Golden for the Timberwolves' first down of the night. On the next play, French, one of Waitsburg's "Four Horsemen," forced a fumble, recovered by the Cardinals. Four plays later, Morris would take it to the house again, setting the tone for the remainder of the game.

Another three-and-out for the Cardinals defense led to a 35-yard kick return by Junior Lucas Van Hoose. For the first time, it was a Timberwolves defense first three and out, and the Cardinals QB Reyes punted the ball.

An 11-yard completion by Bryan to Sophomore Elijah Morkve was not celebrated long as Morris scored on defense for the Cardinals on the next play.

In three plays, the Timberwolves had two incomplete passes as time expired in the first quarter.

The start of the second quarter included a sack by Senior Jayce Gleason and two completed passes by Ryan before the Cardinals took over the ball. A 71-yard pass to Van Hoose was ruled a Touchback, and the ball went back to the Timberwolves on their 20 with an additional 15-yard tripping penalty.

The Cardinals defense stopped them with another 3 and out. Van Hoose set up the Cards' offense with a 36-yard return, leading to another Reyes to Morris TD completion. Segraves brought in the 2-point conversion, bringing the score to 46-6.

With the Cards up 40 points, the Mercy Rule was implemented, and the clock would now run without stopping for the remaining time.

Timberwolves QB Ryan received the ball and ran it back 13 yards. With the clock running, there was only time for Ryan to make two quick runs, leaving the score 46-6 going into halftime.

Waitsburg put in Freshman QB Isaac Mahre for the remainder of the game. Mahre proved he could complete passes and make big plays. Completing a 61-yard TD pass to Morris and a quarterback sneak for the 2-point conversion, he extended the Cardinals lead to 54-6.

The Timberwolves received the ball to start the fourth quarter in a good field position. Ryan gained a first down by running the ball for 14 yards and ran 47 yards for the Timberwolves' second and final touchdown of the night. The 2-point conversion was unsuccessful, and the score was 54-12.

The Cardinals added a TD by Segraves on a 51-yard breakaway and a 2-point conversion by Jayce Gleason.

The Timberwolves made it to the 2-yard line only to fumble, with the Cardinals recovering the ball.

In the next play, Mahre recovered a fumbled snap and tossed the ball to Freshman Kade Cole, who ran 80 yards for the last touchdown of the night. JJ Gleason ran in the 2-point conversion, and the final score was 70-12 Cardinals.

Waitsburg Coach Gabe Kiefel said the game went well, "Our team played as a unit, and upperclassmen showed their leadership." He said, "We did as much as possible offensively to get a running clock by the second half. With breakout performances by Reyes, Yuzty, Morris, Vanhoose, Seagraves, and many others."

Kiefel said his team's defense had done well holding the Timberwolves to 12 points; half were held with non-starters on the line."

As a team leader, Senior Cyson Morris said of the game,

"It feels great. I love how everyone played. I love how our line blocked. Our second team came in and did what they needed to do and proved that they were here for the team. ."

Asked about his first full start, Brenton Segraves said, "It feels amazing; it was nice to get out there and start finally. I loved all the big blocks that I got for my big runs. The team worked hard; I love it."

The Cardinals' next game will be an away game against DeSales at 7 p.m. on Friday, September 29.