Bucs shut out by RV Cards
Blue Earth Area traveled to Redwood Falls to face the Redwood Valley Cardinals in football on Friday, Sept. 7. Although the Buccaneers amassed more offensive yards than the Cardinals, they came out on the wrong end of the score, losing 21-0.
The opening quarter of the game saw the Bucs outgaining the Cardinals 71-44 in total yardage. However, a Buccaneer fumble deep in their own territory led to a one-play scoring drive by the Cardinals that gave the hosts a 7-0 lead at the end of quarter one.
It was much the same in the second quarter as the Buccaneers found success moving the ball but could not find the end zone.
Redwood Valley finally broke through for their second touchdown of the night with 4:53 remaining in the half. The extra point kick was through the uprights to give the Cardinals a 14-0 lead and close out the scoring for the first half.
The Cardinals started the second half receiving the kick off. Following a good return, they began their first drive on their own 43-yard line. Adam Griffin stuffed the Cardinal runner on first down for a one-yard gain. Linebacker Zac Murphy then chased down a sweep that gave the Cards a two-yard gain and set up a third down and seven situation.
The Cardinal quarterback was flushed from the pocket and scrambled across midfield for six yards. Facing a fourth down and needing a yard for a first down, Redwood Valley opted to punt the ball away hoping to pin the Buccaneers deep in their own territory.
However, following a return by Koby Nagel, the Cardinals were penalized 15 yards for a personal foul to give the Bucs the ball on their own 35-yard line with 10:22 to go in the third quarter.
A six-yard run by quarterback Hunter Bleess followed by a four-yard run by Austin Thielfoldt gave the Bucs a first down at their own 45-yard line.
Max Ehrich’s run up the middle for nine yards moved the ball into Cardinal territory to the 46-yard line. Ehrich then scampered 11 yards to the 35-yard line and gave the Buccaneers another first down.
Three plays later found the Bucs facing fourth down needing nine yards to continue the drive.
Bleess found wide receiver Cameron Anderson open and the resulting catch and run gave the Bucs a first down at the Cardinal 20-yard line.
The drive would stall at this point and the maroon and gold turned the ball over on downs with 5:21 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
Taking over on their own 26-yard line, the Cardinals engineered an 11-play, 74-yard drive that resulted in a touchdown with 11:11 left in the ball game. The PAT was good and that ended the scoring for the night with Redwood Valley holding a 21-0 advantage.
The Buccaneers outgained the Cardinals 292 to 206 yards.
Leading the way for Blue Earth Area was Ehrich who rushed for 120 yards on 17 carries with his longest run being 20 yards. Anderson was the leading receiver for the Bucs with seven receptions for 48 yards followed by Thielfoldt who had five receptions for 25 yards.
The loss gives the Buccaneers a record of zero wins and two losses. The Buccaneers played host to Jackson County Central at Wilson Field on Sept. 14. Results of that contest will appear in next week’s addition of the Faribault County Register.