WAITSBURG - Waitsburg High School football team started strong against undefeated Liberty Christian (LC) in the homecoming game on Friday, October 13.

The Cardinals held their own in the first quarter. Senior Cyson Morris changed the game's energy with a 55-yard reception and scored a touchdown. At the end of one quarter, LC led 16-14.

Liberty Christian led 30-14 at halftime and ended the game with a 50-14 win.

"Our guys fought the whole time," said Coach Gabe Kiefel. "I do not think the score reflects this game's competition. We have had a couple of weeks of adversity. We could have crumbled under the pressure we have been facing. However, our leaders stepped up and kept the energy high throughout the game. Our line did especially well in creating holes and putting pressure on defense. We just could not find the right combination of things to get more points on the board," he said.

Seniors Morris, Blake French, Jayce Gleason, and Reuben Yutzy played in their last homecoming game. They played well, tackled hard, and were leaders on the field. Morris, Brenton Segraves, Koyen Fortune, and Isa Reyes ran the ball well, while the passing game struggled against LC's defense pass rush.

The Cardinals will get back at it and prepare for their game at Garfield-Palouse on Friday, October 20.

At halftime, the 2023 Homecoming Court was announced, and seniors Blake French and Makenna Barron were named King and Queen.

About 20 alumni wore letterman jackets to the homecoming game, a tradition started last year by the Home and School Association (HASA) to be an annual event.

Names were drawn for prizes and were announced at halftime.  Savannah Castillo, Class of 2007, won a Waitsburg Cardinal tumbler. Karen Huwe, Class of 1979, won a Waitsburg Cardinal stadium seat, and Kaitlyn Paul, wearing her Aunt Tisha White's, Class of 1991, letterman jacket, won a season sports pass.