Cardinals Grip Good Versus Burros

In the best jungle-gym performance of the week, LeRoy-Ostrander worked on its grip versus Lanesboro in a Section 1 9-Man football opener.  Trevor Carrier’s group built a 21-0.  The Cardinals got a first quarter 2-yard TD run by Isaac Collier, and two second quarter TD passes from Chase Johnson to Tristan Lewison (65 yards and 28 yards) to take a three TD lead.  Lanesboro regrouped just before the half, getting a 46-yard TD pass from Seth Semmen to Carter Clarke to make the halftime score 21-6.  But Lanesboro then scored on its first two possessions of the second half, as J.T. Rein (74 yards) and Hayden Lawstuen (47 yards) ripped off big scoring runs.  The Burros converted just one of their three two-point plays, leaving L-O clinging to a 21-20 lead in the third quarter.  But mid-way through the fourth, Johnson hit Brodi Nesler for a 40-yard TD pass and catch.  The Cardinal PAT was blocked leaving L-O up 27-20.   Lanesboro had life late, getting a Caden Anderson interception return to the Cardinal 14 with around 4:00 to play.  But they fumbled away their red zone opportunity.  L-O was then forced to punt, but Lanesboro muffed the reception, icing the game for L-O.  Trevor Carrier’s group grasped well a 27-20 win.   Chase Johnson (9-17, 194 yards, 3 TDs, INT passing, 20-72 rushing) led the way for L-O.   Collier (20-145, TD rushing) keyed the rushing attack, including ripping off a 50-yard run to set up L-O’s first TD.   Lewison (4-104, 2 TDs receiving) and Nesler (3-70, TD receiving) led the L-O receiving corp.   Lanesboro did its damage on the ground, mostly on the two big runs.  Rein (14-118, TD rushing) and Lawstuen (9-76, TD rushing) led the way.  The Burros completed just the one pass (the TD from Semmen to Clarke).  Neither team had a long sustained drive, as big plays set up our accounted for all seven TDs.