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Cardinals beat Meeker in 44-16 blowout

Joelle MilholmGlenwood Springs, CO Colorado

PARACHUTE – Offense, defense, special teams. It all looked good for Grand Valley on Friday night as the Cardinals dominated the Meeker Cowboys for a 44-16 win.And the show didn’t take long to get started.After Grand Valley’s defense held the Cowboys (2-1 Class 1A Western Slope League) to a three and out on Meeker’s first possession, the Cardinals’ offense was unstoppable.With Colton Cowan and William Waugh alternating carries, Grand Valley had no trouble moving down the field. Cowan scored Grand Valley’s first TD on a 26-yard run less than three minutes into the contest. Then Cowan recovered a fumble to set up another 7-yard run for his second score of the game. The Cards converted a 2-point conversion on a Jon Lantz run and Grand Valley (4-0 overall, 2-1 WSL) went up 14-0 with 8:48 remaining in the first quarter.After the Cards’ defense made the Cowboys turn the ball over on downs, Grand Valley quarterback Matt Cain hit Lantz for a 75-yard touchdown play, after which Michael Shepard hit the extra point. After 12 minutes of play, the Cards were up 21-0.Grand Valley scored on its next drive, a eight-play march that included a 30-yard reception by Tyler Jensen and ended with a Waugh 1-yard TD run.Grand Valley’s defense, which had already been shutting down the Cowboys, then came up with two big plays as Matt Zollars and Cowan picked off passes from Meeker quarterback Tyler Matrisciano. Between the interceptions, Waugh set off on a 53-yard dash to put Grand Valley up 34-0.On special teams, 5-foot-10, 202-pound lineman Cole Kraft blasted kickoffs eliminating any chances of the Cowboys having good field position. With five seconds left in the first half, Shepard added a 20-yard field goal to give the Cards a 37-0 lead at halftime, giving plenty of exciting plays for the kids playing football in the field next to the stadium to imitate.The Grand Valley starters stayed in the game for one more drive to start the third quarter, and Lantz stole the show rushing for 49 yards on five rushes including a 15-yard scoring run. The Cards’ second-teamers came in after Grand Valley took a 44-0 lead.After backup Cardinal QB Ryan Gallegos fumbled, Meeker recovered and Mitch Jacob put the Cowboys on the board with a 3-yard crash into the end zone. Meeker scored again after Grand Valley’s lone punt in the contest when Matrisciano hit Trenton Schindler as the game buzzer sounded.Cain finished three for five on the night for 114 yards and a TD, while Lantz had one catch for 75 yards and Jensen reeled in two receptions for 39 yards.Waugh led the Cardinals’ ground game, carrying the ball seven times for 81 yards and a score, Cowan rushed 13 times for 68 yards and two TDs, and Lantz finished with 65 yards and one touchdown on six carries.Grand Valley will be at home again next week for another WSL battle against West Grand at 7:30 p.m.


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