Cardinals open the season with a statement win
The eighth grade tackle squad set the tone early and never looked back, beating Fruitport 28 to 14 in front of a packed home crowd.
Under the Friday night lights at Cardinal Stadium, Orchard View looked sharp from the opening whistle. The defense forced a three and out on the first possession, and the offense answered with a seven play drive capped by a short touchdown run.
From there, the Cardinals controlled the pace. A balanced attack kept Fruitport guessing, and a pair of second quarter scores pushed the lead to three possessions before halftime.
A defense that set the tone
If there was one story from the night, it was the Cardinals front seven. They pressured the quarterback all evening, stuffed the run on early downs, and gave the offense short fields to work with.
We talk all week about starting fast and finishing strong. Tonight the kids did both.
The coaching staff rotated players across both sides of the ball, getting valuable reps for the younger Cardinals while keeping the starters fresh for the fourth quarter.
What comes next
The Cardinals head back out next week, then return home to face Whitehall. Keep an eye on the schedule and scoreboard right here on the hub for kickoff times and live results.
- Next game: at Montague, Friday 6:30 PM
- Home opener follow up: vs Whitehall
- Full season results live on the scoreboard
Want your athlete in a Cardinals uniform next season? Head to the registration page to claim a spot.