Springfield Catholic Central’s Dominic Dewitt, right, intercepts a second-half pass intended for Triad’s Cameron Atchison. The Cardinals lost, 48-26.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Will Channell)
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The Triad Cardinals fell to 0-3 on the season, while the Jonathan Alder Pioneers lost their first game of the 2017 campaign on Friday.
The Cardinals put up quite a battle, but dropped a 48-26 verdict to Springfield Catholic Central, while JA (2-1) suffered a 28-14 setback to Clearfork.
Triad, which will travel to Greenon on Friday, put up a fierce battle, but made enough mistakes to lose several games.
The Cardinals had a pair of long touchdown plays called back on penalties, while quarterback Jordan Simonelli suffered four interceptions.
Triad was flagged for nine infractions, in which it lost 90 yards.
“We are a young team with only three seniors, but we have to begin to grow up fast,” said coach Joe Cardinal. “We saw two nice touchdowns nullified by penalties and we’ve got to clean that up.
“Still, the kids never gave up.”
The first half was a true battle as neither team managed much offense.
Penalties and a failure to execute thwarted potential scoring drives.
The Irish put the first points on the board with a touchdown in the opening period.
Dominic Dewitt scored on a 37-yard run. Will Clark’s extra point allowed SCC to take a 7-0 lead into the ensuing period.
Triad evened the game with 3:16 left in the half when Simonelli connected with Isaiah Bruce on a 16-yard scoring strike.
Simonelli’s extra point knotted the game.
The Cardinals had to only hold the Irish for just a handful of minutes in order to take the stalemate into the turn.
SCC, though, mounted a late drive that was capped when Dominic Catanzaro carried the ball in from the 12-yard-line.
Clark’s conversion attempt was blocked, sending the Irish into the break with a 13-7 lead.
SCC exploited Triad’s defense for three touchdowns during the third period.
Catanzaro scored on a 50-yard run, while quarterback Colin Kirby added a 13-yard scamper.
Kirby took to the air for the third score of the quarter, connecting with Dewitt on a 43-yard pass.
Clark’s extra points pushed the Irish out to a 34-7 lead by the end of the period.
To their credit, the Cardinals refused to fold.
Simonelli found Cameron Atchison for touchdown passes of 28 and 13 yards. Atchison was the main offensive threat for Triad as he gained 190 yards on 13 receptions and finished with 498 all-purpose yards.
Riley Louck also recovered an Irish fumble in the end zone for a touchdown.
The Irish added a late touchdown on a 43-yard run by Kirby to seal the victory.
JA falls
The Pioneers, a team that likes to pound the ball on the ground, managed only seven rushing yards on 23 carries during their loss to the Colts.
With Clearfork shutting down the running game, Alder quarterback Preston Eisnaugle was forced to go to the air 45 times. He completed 23 for 314 yards and was picked off once.
Alder scored single touchdowns during the second and fourth quarters.
Eisnaugle connected with Dalton Potts for a 68-yard scoring strike during the second quarter as JA trailed 21-7 at halftime.
Both teams tallied a touchdown in the fourth period after a scoreless third quarter.
Alder scored on Eisnaugle’s one-yard run.
The Pioneers will host Benjamin Logan on Friday in their CBC debut.