COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – It was an offensive explosion for the Coldwater Cardinals Thursday night as they literally ran by the Haslett Vikings 47-30 in the opening game of the high school football season at Cardinal Field.
The Cardinals compiled 615 yards of rushing offense and had possession of the ball for 31 minutes.
Matt Gipple and Damon Beckhusen were our McDonald’s Players of the Game. Gipple had 17 carries for 214 yards and four touchdowns while Beckhusen had 26 carries for 322 yards and three touchdowns.
Bo Branham led the defense with eight tackles including two behind the line of scrimmage.
—OTHER BRANCH COUNTY FOOTBALL—
It was a tough night for both the Quincy Orioles and the Union City Chargers as they were shut out in their opening games. Quincy lost at Sand Creek 55-0 while Union City was beaten by Constantine 60-0.
Bronson opens their season at home on Friday night against Prairie Heights. The Bronson J.V.’s defeated Prairie Heights 26-12 on Thursday night.
In eight player football, Tekonsha was beaten by St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic in their opening game 68-50.
—AREA FOOTBALL SCORES—
INTERSTATE 8 SCHOOLS
FINAL: (at) Harper Creek 25, Benton Harbor 16
FINAL: Thornapple Kellogg 41, (at) Hastings 34
FINAL: (at) Freeland 27, Marshall 26 (2 OT – game ended after 12:30 a.m. Friday morning)
HALF: Northwest 35, (at) Eaton Rapids 21 (game suspended, will be resumed Friday at 10:00 a.m.)
3Q: Whitehall 14, (at) Western 7 (game suspended, will be resumed Friday at 11:00 a.m.)
4Q: (at) Pennfield 28, Lakewood 22 (game suspended, will be finished Friday at 4:00 p.m.)
FRIDAY: Lumen Christi at Kalamazoo United (played at Kalamazoo College’s Angell Field)
BIG 8 SCHOOLS
Pewamo-Westphalia 14, Reading 0 (game played at Olivet College, called due to lightning)
(at) Springport 31, Vandercook Lake 0
(at) Homer 18, Michigan Center 8
Hillsdale 18, (at) Jonesville 8
(at) Concord 31, Hanover-Horton 13 (called due to lightning)
OTHER AREA SCHOOLS
Gobles 32, Athens 24
Mendon 14, Decatur 7
Paw Paw 42, Three Rivers 0
White Pigeon 54, Bloomingdale 0
AREA 8 PERSON FOOTBALL
Colon 56, Lawrence 6
Burr Oak 64, Big Rapids Crossroads Academy 0
Litchfield 30, St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran 6
Waldron 1, Detroit Academy of the Americas 0 (forfeit)
