Photo by Paul Trende
The halftime score was 36-36. It looked like the first team to 60 would win. The team that got to 60 points did win. In a classic 9-man shoot, L-O (1-2) and Houston (2-1) did battle, combining for 110 points! The game started uniquely. The ‘Canes opening kick-off was allowed to be returned to the 10-yard line. Cardinal four-year team manager Brody Larson, a sub 5’0” tall senior who suffers from Hurler Syndrome, then lived his dream, scoring a 10-yard TD and adding the two-point conversion. It was a moment beyond pure football. Houston was then allowed to return their kick-off 87-yards (Jack Chiglo) for a score, plus get the conversion. Two pre-arranged scores in the first minute led to a game of scoring. L-O’s Carter Johnson authored a 54-yard TD run, making it 15-8 with 11:08 still left in the first. Hurricane Isaac Heyer had a pair of first quarter TD runs. Cardinal Isaac Collier and Hurricane Logan Rodriguez each had a pair of second quarter TD runs. Houston seemed to hold an edge after taking a 36-30 lead late in the second quarter (1:07), as they were to receive the second half kick-off. But it took L-O just two Johnson to Andrew Lohuis passes, the last a 14-yard TD strike, to tie things up 36-36 at the break. Ultimately, in a game where each team punted once, it was turnovers that tipped things L-O’s way. Houston fumbled on their first second-half drive. L-O scored just five plays later. Houston then authored its only punt. L-O again went and scored, Johnson’s second TD run of the third. The Cardinals built a 50-36 lead. Houston twice got to within one score in the fourth, down 50-42 and down 56-48. The latter after a Heyer to Ethan Hargrove 70-yard TD pass (the ‘Cane’s only attempt and completion of the game). Each time, L-O matched the score, as Collier had two fourth quarter TD runs, giving the senior a pair of two-TD-run quarters. With just over 3:00 left, Houston (down 62-48) fumbled on the L-O 2-yard line, sealing it. Scoring on nine of 11 possessions (and running the clock out on their last series), Trevor Carrier’s Cardinals prevailed 62-48! Johnson (26-202, 3 TDs rushing, 7-14, 106 yards, TD passing) and Collier (20-190, 4 TDs rushing) had massive games, running off right side often. L-O ran for over 400 yards. Lohuis added three receptions for 60 yards and a TD. L-O had over 500 yards total offense. The junior Heyer (20-175, 2 TDs rushing, 70-yard TD pass) had his third straight 150-yard rushing, multi-TD game. Caiden Olson (17-91, TD rushing) and Rodriguez (14-99, 2 TDs rushing) helped. Hargrove had a 46-yard run to go with his 70-yard TD catch. Houston ran for 414 yards and was just shy of 500 yards total offense. The teams combined for 52 first downs (LO 28, Houston 24)! L-O improved to 2-2. Houston fell to 2-2.