Cardinals Cruise In Home Opener Against Milan

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By Mark Requet

The South Shelby Cardinals opened the season with a convincing 47-6 win over the Milan Wildcats on Friday, August 25, 2023, in its home opener.

The action started early for the Cardinals. On the opening kickoff, senior Cameron Wiseman returned the kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown. The two-point conversion was good on a rushing play by quarterback Gabe Bowen and South Shelby led 8-0 only 15 seconds into the game.

On Milan’s first possession, the Wildcats were forced to punt the ball back to the Cardinals.

South Shelby was called for a false start pushing the ball back five yards, but the first play from scrimmage for the Cardinals resulted in a 61-yard touchdown run from senior Kendal Hammond. Hammond reached the endzone on the two-point conversion and the Cardinals quickly built a 16-0 lead with 9:22 left in the first quarter.

“Any time you can start the game off with a kickoff for a touchdown it can really set the tone for the rest of the game,” said Cardinals Head Coach Adam Gunterman. “Then to get a stop and then score on our first play was a giant springboard for the rest of the game.”

The Wildcats had to punt in its second possession of the game.

The Cardinals started its third drive of the game at their own 43-yard line. South Shelby moved the ball methodically down the field, ending with a score. Quarterback Chase Moellering completed a six-yard pass to a wide open Owen Steuve for a touchdown. The two-point conversion was good when Moellering completed a pass to Preston Elsen and the Cardinals led 24-0 with 11:45 left in the second quarter.

The Cardinals defense held again forcing a punt from Milan.

South Shelby, once again, had no trouble moving the ball down the field. On second down from the Cardinals own 38-yard line, Hammond ran 26 yards to the Milan 36-yard line. On the next play, Moellering connected with Wiseman on a 33-yard pass that gave the Cardinals a first down at the three-yard line. Two plays later, quarterback Gabe Bowen plunged in for the one-yard touchdown run. Bowen also scored on two-point conversion and the Cardinals led 32-0 with 4:54 left in the first half.

Milan’s offense started with the ball in the second half and was forced to punt.

A five-yard penalty against the Cardinals put the ball on the South Shelby 28-yard line. Wiseman broke loose on the first play for 37 yards, putting the ball at the Milan 35-yard line. On the very next play, Hammond ran 35 yards for the touchdown, his second of the game. The two-point conversion was good when Moellering completed the pass to Preston Elsen giving the Cardinals a 40-0 lead with 9:42 left in the third quarter.

Milan finally broke through against the Cardinals defense and drove the field to get on the board with a touchdown, a two-yard run by Ahmet Niasse. The two-point conversion failed, and the lead was 40-6 with 1:24 left in the third quarter.

South Shelby’s final score of the game came early in the fourth quarter. Moellering ran for a big 39-yard gain on the second down play near the end of the third quarter. The first play of the fourth quarter was a 21-yard touchdown run by Wiseman, his second of the game. The extra point kick by Hammond was good to give the Cardinals a 47-6 lead.

“We played a really complete game. I’m really proud of the work and effort our boys have put into the offseason and it showed on a Friday night,” said Gunterman. “We still have a lot of things that we need to improve on, such as cutting down on some penalties pre-snap.”

Unofficially, Hammond led the offensive attack for the Cardinals with 190 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns. Wiseman finished with 79 yards on five carries and two touchdowns. Moellering rushed for 50 yards on eight carries.

Moellering completed three passes for 49 yards.

Unofficially on defense, Hammond led the Cardinals with 12 tackles, including four tackles for a loss. Chance Rainey finished with five tackles, with one for a loss. Ethan Dodd also added five tackles.

“I thought our defense was solid and we showed some great physicality. Coach (Carl) Parman does a great job getting our kids ready and they played great,” added Gunterman. “Both sides of the ball, we got some things to clean up, but it was a good start.”

The Cardinals, 1-0 overall, travels to Westran on Friday, September 1, 2023 with the game beginning at 7 p.m.