CAMDEN — Camden Fairview Head Coach Jake Monden and his staff can now officially say the Cardinals are on a winning streak after beating Hope for Homecoming 42-21.
Things looked bleak for the Red Birds after dropping to 1-5 a couple of weeks ago, but CF has won its last two at home.
CF forced the All State quarterback Austin Stubber and his Hope offense into a three and out on its first possession and played the passing game fairly well, but the Cardinals struggled on offense. The quarter would end with CF running back Chris Hargraves only having one carry. Hope wouldn't score until late in the first quarter when a John Dawson pass to Jonathan McCoy resulted in a fumble at the Cardinals' 38 yard line. Hope would take advantage and score to take a 7-0 lead with 4:32 left in the first quarter.
The Bobcats then recovered an onside kick around the 50 and advanced the ball down to the CF 18. CF's Jovan Pace came up with a big block on Hope's field goal attempt to leave the game stuck at 7-0 to end the quarter.
The Cardinals put together a 12 play drive to start the second period but ended up punting. Hope fielded the ball deep inside its own territory and things looked like it was going to go in favor when the Bobcats faced a fourth and 16, but a roughing the kicker penalty was called to give them a first down. Hope looked to make the most of the opportunity but pressure from Kyron Hillard and Tarrion Thompson forced Stubber to throw a pass into the open arms of CF's Nic Fogle. The Cardinals offense would come in and score on the very next play when Hargraves found the end zone from 32 yards out. Dalvonte Lewis scored on the two point play to give the Cards an 8-7 lead with 4:13 before the half.
The Bobcats started its next drive at its 41 yard line but the Cardinals would force another three and out to get the ball back. Lewis would cap a 7 play 68 yard drive with an 11 yard touchdown run. Hargraves added two to extend the lead to 9 with 1:23 left before half time.
Hope wasn't done yet.
Hope fielded the ball around its 40 yard line and was able to score with :52 left before the half on a 44 yard touchdown pass. The Cardinals opted to head into the half with the score as it was, 16-14.
The Cardinals continued to be a second half team and came out clicking on all cylinders. After receiving the ball to start the third the Cardinals scored quickly on a on a 42 yard touchdown run by Hargraves.
The Cardinals would score on all five of its 3red quarter possessions with Lewis Hargraves and Keith Johnson all scoring rushing touchdowns. mean while Hopes third quarter possessions ended in two turnovers on down another interception and a punt. The first two possessions for the fourth quarter for Hope ended in fumbles as well. The Bobcats didn't score until the Cardinals reserves entered the game.
Hope passed for 368 but it took Stubber going 31/48 to do so.
The Cardinals defense had three interceptions and two fumbles and held Hope to under 40 rushing yards.
Andretti Austin picked off two of the Cardinals three interceptions. Hunter Lisemby recovered a late fumble for the Cardinal defense as well. The Cardinal D- line play couldn't have been much better as Hillard and Thompson, who battled through a nagging shoulder injury, consistently applied pressure to Stubber. Both had two sacks with Kendrick Hildreth adding another. Sam Kidd and Eric Bigby both had tackles for losses as Tim Crumpler claimed five tackles and slowed Hope's second level passing game braking up three passes.
Hargraves finished with 263 of the Cardinals 420 rushing yards to average more than 11 yards per carry.
Lewis had his best game as a returner but the stat line wont show it due to penalties that were called on the back side of his returns. Lewis took an early punt return for a 52 yard touchdown but it was called back then later in the game he had a 55 yard punt return to put CF inside the Hope 10 yard line but it was also called back.
Jalen Moore was the leading receiver. Jalen Moore was the leading receiver with 24 yards on three receptions.