Cards hold their own with 8-man powerhouse

by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor

The Onaway football team lost its first eight-man football game last Friday to Rapid River, 26-12.

It was not a “W” but it was a solid showing for the Cards, considering that Rapid River has been to two eight-man state title games since 2011.

Down 20-12 in the fourth quarter, Onaway had back-to-back possessions and could not muster the offense to tie the game.

SENIOR BRADLEY Brewbaker fights off a defender and found some running room. (Photo by Peter Jakey)
SENIOR BRADLEY Brewbaker fights off a defender and found some running room. (Photo by Peter Jakey)

The visiting Rockets broke a 57-yard touchdown run with two minutes remaining to ice the win.

“It was a great football game by two evenly matched teams,” said Rapid River coach Steve Ostrenga. “I think Onaway did a great job. I think they are going to find more ways to utilize their talent. I told them, they are going to win a lot of football games.”

The eight-man game is known for its high scoring, but fans at Cardinal Stadium were treated to a surprising defensive struggle early on. There was no scoring for the first 23 minutes of the season until Rapid River went up 6-0 at the one-minute mark of the second.

Onaway quickly countered with Cortez Washington connecting on a 36-yard pass play to Bradley Brewbaker to the Rockets’ 13. Washington went back to the air on the next play and found Lucas Tollini at the back of the end zone. He made a juggling catch at the back of the line and recorded the first Cardinal points of 2015. It was tied at six at the break.

The Rockets used a 13-play drive to open the second half and retake the lead at 12-6. The conversion was good for a 14-6 lead.

An onside kick by the Rockets failed, giving Onaway great field position. The Cards would capitalize. Washington found Jonathan Bay streaking to the right and he made a one-handed grab and ran down to the Rockets’ t

wo. Washington scored on the next play; however, the conversion failed and Rapid River held on to a two-point lead.

Late in the third, the Rockets connected on a long pass play to the Onaway 7 and scored a few plays later.

The Onaway defense gave the home team a chance to win, but the offense could not put anything else together.

“I feel real good,” said Cardinal coach Jim Cleaver. “They played hard. We have some things to work on.

“We have to work on executing our plays a little better, and we have to get in better shape. We had a few guys that were sucking wind at the end.”

Cleaver will build on a great defensive effort as they head to Brimley (0-1) tonight for their first Bridge Alliance conference contest