Onaway wins defensive grind on homecoming night

by Peter Jakey-Managing Editor

The Onaway defense shined on homecoming night and gave the Cardinal football team its second win of the year, 8-6, over Gaylord St. Mary.

 

SENIOR ELI Shockley ran for 50 yards on 10 carries, but preserved Friday’s win with a tackle on Gaylord St. Mary’s fourth quarter two-point attempt. (Photo by Peter Jakey)

Eli Shockley, who joined the team two weeks ago, made the stop on a two-point conversion to keep the points off the board and preserve the win.

Cortez Washington scored the game’s only touchdown and Cody Morell ran in the game-winning points on the Cardinals two point conversion attempt in the third quarter.

“I’m just real happy right now,” said coach Jim Cleaver following the post game huddle with his team. “I was asking them all week. I told them I wanted to be the first coach to get a homecoming win in the last four or five years, and they gave it to me tonight. I’m real proud of my boys, they worked hard.”

The score was 0-0 at halftime. Defensive ends Brad Brewbaker and Morell put lots of pressure in the Snowbird’s backfield. The GSM quarterback did not have a lot of time to operate and the option game was neutralized.

The only big connection came late in the fourth quarter on a long pass play to make the score 8-6. GSM decided run a dive play into the left side; however, Shockley was waiting there to make the tackle on the running back one yard short of the goal line.

The offense put together a balanced third quarter drive, capped by Washington’s touchdown.

“They played their spots and everybody did the

ir job, and we came out on top,” said Cleaver. The Cards have now equaled the win total of the 2013 team. Getting number three will not be easy tonight as they travel to Joburg. He is hopeful that the momentum gained from last week’s win will roll over.

“They need as much momentum as they can get,” said Cleaver. Joburg comes into the game 4-1 and beat GSM two weeks ago, 50-14.

Stats:

Rushing: Cortez Washington 15/52; Ely Shockley 10/50; Cody Morell 6/17; Dalton Adkins 4/14; Brad Brewbaker 1/13.

Passing: Morell 3-for-8/24; Washington 1-for-1/ 37.

Receiving: Ray Self 4/61.

Defense: D.J. Fenstermaker 11 tackles; Shockley 9; Morell 7, sack; Brewbaker 7, sack; Self 6; Washington 6; Jonathan Bay 6; Cody Whitsitt 5; Adkins 5; Paul Ransom 4; Jason Price 4; Dallas Hyde 2; Troy Klein 1; Kelli Russell 1; Garrett Roat 1.