Cards crush Colonels
Published 11:30 am Monday, October 24, 2022
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If a complete game is one in which all facets of the game operate cohesively, the George Rogers Clark Cardinals had perhaps their most complete game of the season Friday night in Winchester.
GRC (6-3) rebounded from a pair of losses to defeat the Oldham County Colonels 48-7 in front of a large home crowd.
“This team [is] fun to be around. They’re good kids, and they work hard,” said GRC Head Football Coach Joe Chirico. “It’s always a good day when you win…fixes a lot of ailments, [and] fixes a lot of things.”
While the Cards didn’t get the ball to start the contest, they wasted little time finding the scoreboard.
On Oldham County’s opening possession, quarterback Kingston Dugan was intercepted by two-way player Zaydin Turner. The wide receiver/defensive back would return the interception 42 yards to give the Cards an early 7-0 with 10:18 remaining in the opening quarter.
“I was very excited,” Turner said. “The inside receiver kind of ran outside of me. The outside receiver ran towards me, and I was able to look out the side of my eye and just cut off his route and pick it off.”
Later in the contest, Turner’s anything-but-ordinary touchdown reception on offense extended the Cards’ lead. On a pass from James-Michael Davis that deflected off the hands of an Oldham County defensive back, the ball ended in Turner’s hands, who took it the rest of the way to give the Cards a 35-0 lead in the 2nd quarter.
“He makes things happen,” Chirico said.
In between Turner’s two scores, Kalen Washington had a productive night for the Cards.
He scored three touchdowns on runs of 11 and 21 yards, along with a 23-yard touchdown reception from QB Tyleik Maxwell.
Yet, with the score 7-0 in the opening quarter, Washington had perhaps his most prominent play.
An approximate 30-yard run on fourth down set up the Cards in the Colonels’ red zone, leading to Washington’s second touchdown run and a 14-0 Cardinal advantage.
Statistically, Washington finished the game with 121 yards rushing.
Bryce Chestnut, the second of two main running backs for George Rogers Clark, was not in uniform.
“I feel like I had to step it up. The team was counting on me,” Washington said. “I was just thinking, ‘No matter what, I’ve got to go get this [fourth down].’”
With a 35-0 Cards lead, the Colonels got into the end zone following a 5-yard touchdown run from Caden Sheppard.
However, Cardinal special teams struck on the ensuing play.
As Oldham County attempted an onside kick, freshman Paxton Hammonds scooped up the ball.
With blockers helping to lead the way, Hammonds sprinted 50 yards down the sideline for a touchdown that gave the Cards a 42-7 lead with 2:04 remaining before halftime.
The Cards would add to their lead in the second half with field goals of 24 and 36 yards by Clay Turley.
“[I’m] glad to see a freshman do that. [He did] what he’s supposed to do, being alert enough to go score,” Chirico said. “[Clay] kicked every kickoff into the endzone…and [kicked] both field goals. It’s awesome.”
The Cards will end their regular season with a home game against Conner (2-7) on Friday, Oct. 28th. It will be Senior Night.