(The TVCC defense swarms NEO running back Jamoni Jones Saturday at Bruce Field. -- Travis Tapley Photo courtesy TVCC)
Northeast Oklahoma A&M (NEO) tried to run the ball down the Cardinals' throat Saturday at Bruce Field.
Yeah, that didn't work.
TVCC's defense shut out the Golden Norsemen in the second half while allowing just 65 total yards to lead the Cardinals to a 27-10 win. The win moves the Cardinals to 2-0 on the year and, more importantly, 1-0 in SWJCFC conference play.
"How about that defense, 10 points on an offense that we didn't know what they were going to do," said Coach Sherard Poteete.
On the other side of the ball, NEO dared the Cardinals to try and run by leaving six or fewer in the box and going with extra defensive backs on the field. TVCC took the dare with Cam Collier going for 85 yards and two touchdowns and Cordrick Dunn adding 36 yards and a touchdown. Quarterbacks Jordan Davis and Bronson McClelland added a combined 53 yards on the ground.
"Our O-linemen just kind of took over in the run game and that was the difference," Coach Poteete said. "We made some passes when we had to move the sticks, but hats off to our O-linemen for really owning the line of scrimmage today."
The Cardinals used tight ends Greyson Morgan and Nathan Jones a lot in the second half when TVCC broke the game open with a pair of touchdowns.
"We were able to put two tight ends in the game, whether they were in the backfield or hands on the ground on the line of scrimmage, and move the football," Coach Poteete said.
The Cardinals will travel next Saturday to take on the Southern Shreveport Jags. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
SCORING
NEO (1Q 4:36): Cooper Houchin 36-yard field goal -- 3-0
TVCC (1Q 2:28): Cameron Collier 17- yard run, Jake Gaster kick good -- 7-3
TVCC (2Q 14:35): Jake Gaster 51-yard field goal -- 10-3
NEO (2Q 8:05): Tre'Juan Shaw 7-yard run, Cooper Houchin kick good -- 10-10
TVCC (2Q 2:28): Jake Gaster 45-yard field goal -- 13-10
TVCC (3Q 12:34): Cordrick Dun 9-yard run, Jake Gaster kick good -- 20-10
TVCC (4Q 7:49): Cameron Collier 10-yard run, Jake Gaster kick good -- 27-10
DID YOU NOTICE
-- How about TVCC kicker Jake Gaster! He has hit 13 straight extra points and field goals of 51 and 45 yards to start the season. What a weapon.
-- Give a big hat tip to Cardinal OL Miquel Massey. The Cards suffered a strip sack late in the first half and Massey chased down the bouncing ball, outfighting multiple Golden Norsemen for the recovery. That drive ended up in a Jake Gaster field goal.
-- TVCC's Rashad Onezime came up with a second-quarter interception. That's the second straight week with a turnover for the DB. Last week, he returned a fumble for a touchdown.
-- Flags were flying throughout the game, but it got a little crazy during an NEO series in the third quarter. On three consecutive plays there were a total of nine flags thrown for six penalties, five of which offset. And, statistically, they all came on third down. Sometimes football is a strange game.
-- Gut check: Midway through the fourth quarter, leading by 10, the Cardinals faced a 4th and 1 from the NEO 19 yard line. Instead of bringing in kicker Jake Gaster, who has been automatic this year, Coach Poteete decided to go for it. Jordan Davis gained two yards for the first down. Two plays later, Cameron Collier scored on a 10-yard run to put the game away.
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