Cards take No. 3 seed after loss to LRM

— By PATRIC FLANNIGAN

Sports editor

Despite a 34-6 loss Friday against the Little Rock (9-1, 6-1) McClellan Crimson Lions last Friday, the Camden Fairview Cardinals (6-4, 5-2) are heading into the third season - the 5A State Playoffs.

CF came out and scored in three plays when Keith Johnson through an outlet pass to sophomore Deshaire Ford-Burton and he raced it into the endzone for a 49 yard touchdown just a play after Qwaishaun Thompson reeled in a 32 yard reception. The PAT was no good and CF led 6-0 with 11 minutes left in the first quarter.

It wouldn’t take long for the Lions to answer as its triple option run game was impressive and it was able to score in five plays. The Lions took the 7-0 lead with 9 minutes left in the quarter.

CF’s next play from scrimmage was an interception at its own 33 yard line. Three plays later, LRM would score an add a two point conversion to take the 15-6 lead.

CF’s offense would pick up a first down on its next drive before punting it back to a red hot Lions team. LRM would chew up some clock before punching it in after 11 plays to make it 21-6 in the top of the second quarter.

CF would again turn the ball over on offense, this time by way of a rare fumble during the quarterback running back exchange.

However, the Cardinal defense buckled down and came up with a big stop on fourth down to put the ball back in its offense’s hands.

CF would have to punt again after failing to find a rhythm on offense and McClellan would drive down the field from its 42 yard line.

With LRM facing a third and goal from the four yard line, CF’s sophomore Jaleel Welch was put into the game as a nose guard and would come up with a fumble. The big man raced the ball deep into the LRM territory at the 35 yard line before being tackle. A penalty moved the ball back to the CF 49 yard line. Still, the CF offense was unable to take advantage and had to force after a three and out.

McCellan took a shot at the endzone on the last play of the half and it was picked off by Oren McCoy.

LRM received the ball to start the second half and chewed up 6:24 seconds on an 11-play drive to take a 27-6 lead. CF stopped the two point conversion.

CF would continue to struggle in the second half on offense with another interception and another three an out. McClellan scored its last touchdown with 8:43 in the fourth quarter on a 44 yard touchdown run.

CF Head Coach Jake Monden said he was disappointed in the loss but he still saw a lot of positives from his team. CF never gave up during the game and still played with composure.

“I thought our kids played really hard tonight (Friday). Especially defensively. Demetrius Moore played extremely hard tonight and we actually moved him to tailback a little bit. We just didn’t have enough and we didn’t play up to par offensively like I thought we should’ve. We go right down the field and score to go ahead six to nothing and that’s (LRM) a hard offense to stop especially when you have that much size up front. Hats off to McClellan they’re a good football team. I think they’ve played for three of the last four championships or something like that in 5A and we really did want that home playoff game. Thing is, we’re moving into the third season and we’re healthy. I think we have better football in us than what we saw Friday night.”

C.F. celebrated its seniors before the game.

This class has played a critical role in getting the Cardinals back into the playoffs for what has been its most successful season since 2015. Monden said he is still expecting big things from his team as it takes on Wynne Friday in the first round of the playoffs.

“These kids have got a lot of fight in them and I don’t think they are complacent or just happy to be in the playoffs,” Monden said.

“They’re a group of kids that want to go and make some noise in the playoffs. You know anything can happen in that third season especially when you are playing well. We’ve played well up to this point. I think that we gotta get it going offensively again like we have the last five or six weeks It just wasn’t us tonight. I look forward to good things next week in the first round of the playoffs.”

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