COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Coldwater Cardinals stayed undefeated three games into the season by winning their first contest played at home this year while Union City bounced back from a loss last week with a big victory but Quincy and Bronson both went down to defeat on the road last night.
The Cardinals christened their turf field by handily beating Pennfield 35-8 with a bruising ground game and a shutdown defense that limited the Panthers to only 40 yards rushing compared to the 309 yards piled up by Coldwater. The Cardinals had to start their season on the road last month at Trine University in Angola, Indiana instead of what was scheduled to be their home opener because of the delayed finish to complete the installation of the turf field. But it was worth the wait for Coldwater fans who were able to check out the new field while watching their team improve to 3-0 and 2-0 in the Interstate Eight Athletic Conference after escaping with 9-7 win last week in Coldwater’s league opener at Marshall. The Cardinals pulled ahead 21-0 over Pennfield and Coldwater had a 28-8 lead at halftime before adding a fourth quarter touchdown to complete the victory. Our McDonald’s Player of the Game for Coldwater was junior running back Sam DeMeester, who had team-high 122 yards rushing on 17 carries including a 3-yard touchdown. The Cardinals will play at home again next Friday night with another conference contest and a visit from Parma Western, which was mashed by Marshall last night with the Redhawks winning 41-13 over Western.
Union City rolled to a 60-18 victory at Athens, giving the Chargers their 15th straight win over the Indians in the rivalry for the Little Brown Jug, a tradition that dates back to 1947. Union City improved to 2-1 and 1-1 in the Big 8 Conference while Athens is 0-3. Jalen Boes led the Chargers with 4 touchdowns, three of them on pass receptions and the other on an 80-yard kick return.
Quincy lost on the road to arch rival Jonesville 12-6. It was tied 6-6 at the half with the Comets scoring the winning touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Orioles outgained Jonesville on the night in total yardage 226-189. Quincy’s first quarter touchdown came on a 93-yard pass play from Nathan Karney to Kalen Stahl. The Orioles drop to 1-2 overall and 0-2 in Big 8.
Bronson is 0-3 after their 52-6 non-conference loss last night at Parchment. The Vikings’ lone touchdown on the night came on a 4-yard run in the second quarter by Kyle Roberts, who led Bronson with 99 yards rushing.
Last night in 8-man Football, Tekonsha lost at home 50-6 to Battle Creek St. Philip.
Friday’s Branch County high school sports schedule included one other event with Coldwater girls golf and the Lady Cardinals came in tenth place out of 17 teams in the Redhawk Invitational at the Marshall Country Club. Coldwater shot a team score of 419. St. Joseph won the event with a score of 356. Leading the way for Coldwater was Haley Linton with a 94, Madison Donbrock shot a 107, Gabriel Boston had a 108, Claire Sheppard carded a 110 and Jayla Goodwin rounded out the scoring with a 113.
On today’s varsity high school sports schedule, in volleyball, it’s the Union City Invitational, including Quincy, while Bronson is at the Battle Creek Lakeview Invitational. In cross country, Coldwater and Union City run at the Centreville Invitational while Quincy and Bronson are at the Battle Creek Invitational. And in girls swimming, Coldwater is at Battle Creek for the Lakeview Relays.
