The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
Carrington running back Ty Johnston surges ahead for a few more yards on this play, as two Rugby Panther defenders pull him down with all their might. Johnston ran for 15 yards on two carries, much of it on this play. Though the team rushed for over 200 yards in the contest, six turnovers (three fumbles and three interceptions) ultimately did in the Cards in a 12-7 loss.
McCoy Beckley (84) grabs a hold of the jersey of Rugby's Bryceton Deplazes as the latter struggles to break free from Beckley's grip. Beckley would tackle the Panther receiver for a loss on the play.
Like a duck, Coach Kyle Smith is calm above water, but paddling like crazy underneath, as he watches play on the field from the sidelines.
Moving the football in between the 20-yard lines wasn't much of a problem for Carrington Friday night, August 26.
It was executing clutch plays that was, along with protecting every valuable possession given to them.
And it took just two scoring plays by Macen Heisler for the Rugby Panthers to walk away with a win in the newly-christened Stadium '22, 12-7.
Heisler answered the Cards' first lead of the season on a Logan Weninger seven-yard touchdown and long extra point by Jack Paulson at the 10:47 mark remaining in the fourth quarter, by finding an opening in the CHS coverage team on the ensuing kickoff for a backbreaking 95-yard return and score for the final margin.
The senior 175-pound tailback got Rugby on the board in the second quarter with a 10-yard sweep around the left side of the Cardinal defense, making it 6-0, Rugby.
Meanwhile, the Cards had some success on the ground in the persons of Weninger, who rushed 16 times for 76 yards, and Hudson Topp, with 71 yards on 11 carries.
For the game, CHS ran for 204 yards, but six turnovers would end up being too much to overcome in a close game.
Sophomore Josh Bickett got the start at quarterback, going 4-for-6 for 20 yards, and alternated with regular starter Grady Shipman late. Shipman was picked off three times, and went 1-for-5 through the air.
Hudson Schmitz had two catches for 13 yards, while on defense, Topp had nine combined tackles and Shipman, Kael Kovar and Jake Otto all had five stops.
Ryder Bickett had four solo tackles, with three of those coming for loss.
Rugby quarterback Brody Schneibel had a few explosive plays through the air to receiver Erik Foster, with the left-hander's bomb to Foster setting up Heisler's first score late in the first half.
With two losses in the early going, Coach Kyle Smith's team will hit a very crucial and difficult part of their schedule with a game against HCV this past Friday night, and the Cards host the 2-0 Thompson Tommies on Friday, September 9 at Stadium '22 at 7 p.m.
Class 11B Region 2 Football
Rugby 12, Carrington 7
Rugby 0 6 0 6 - 12
Cgtn. 0 0 0 7 - 7
Second Quarter
Rugby: Macen Heisler 10 yard run (run failed)
Fourth Quarter
Carrington: Logan Weninger 7 yard run (Jack Paulson kick)
Rugby: Heisler 95 yard kickoff return (run failed)
Carrington Statistics
Offense
Passing: Josh Bickett 4-6-20 yards; Grady Shipman 1-5-8 yards-3 INT
Rushing: Weninger 16-76-TD; Hudson Topp 11-71; Kael Kovar 5-18; Ty Johnston 2-15; Shipman 2-8; J. Bickett 2-2; Corbin Clifton 3-2
Receiving: Hudson Schmitz 2-13; McCoy Beckley 1-8; Kovar 1-7; Weninger 1-0
Defense
Tackles (unassisted/assisted): Topp (5-4); Ryder Bickett (4-0); Shipman (3-2); Kovar (3-2); Jake Otto (3-2); J. Bickett (1-0); Beckley (1-2); Brock Jungels (1-1); Carson Ova (1-1); Braden Kruse (0-1)
Interceptions: J. Bickett, Kovar
Tackles for Loss: R. Bickett 3, Topp 2, Beckley, Ova
