Elkhart Falls to Sabine, 35-12
Homecoming Loss Drops Elks to 3-1
By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter
ELKHART – It was Homecoming in Elkhart as the 3-0 Elks looked to extend their winning streak to four games against the 3-0 Sabine Cardinals. Both teams were hoping to extend their unbeaten streaks in the early part of the 2019 season and while the Elks looked solid in the early going, they faded late as the Cardinals dropped the Elks by a final score of 35-12.
The first quarter was a back and forth affair with neither team able to get any offensive traction until the final few minutes of the period.
After a Cardinals’ punt left the Elks in the shadow of their own goal post, Elkhart mounted a time-consuming drive. Sabine jumped offsides on first down to give Elkhart a little breathing room. Next, QB Cade Starr connected with TE Ky Thomas for 11 yards. Starr then found Gage Horn for seven more and followed up with a seven-yard pickup.
A personal foul against the Cardinals moved the ball out to the 42. RJ Moore got into the act as the junior running back picked up three on first down and then ripped off 26 yards on second down. Starr added another six that was aided by the second Sabine personal foul on the drive which moved the ball down to the 12.
Unfortunately, that was as far as Elkhart would get as an interception by Sabine’s Brannigan Willige ended the Elks’ drive.
Willege’s return gave the Cardinals excellent field position. Sabine QB Landon McKinney found wide-out Jace Burns for 35 yards on the first play after the pick as the first quarter expired.
The second quarter began with a bang as McKinney kept it and scampered 27 yards to the end zone to give the Cardinals a 6-0 lead with 11:50 left in the half. Fernando Jaimes tacked on the extra point to make the score 7-0.
After the score, the Elks returned the favor as the Elks began to drive once again. This time, however, the result ended with a 33-yard TD burst from Moore to cut the lead to 7-6.
While the first quarter was scoreless, the second quarter was chock full of points.
Sabine began to pound away at the Elkhart defensive line with McKinney and running back BJ Stidham. McKinney picked up 36 yards on two carries and then Stidham followed up with a 27-yard scamper for a touchdown. Jaimes was good on the point after and the Cardinals now led by a score of 14-6.
The next time Elkhart had the ball, however, the Elks made quick work of things as two running plays moved the ball across the midfield stripe. From there, Starr connected with Messiah Birdow on a 45-yard scoring strike to cut the lead to 14-12. The try for two was no good.
With under two minutes left to play in the first half, the Sabine offense went back to work. Two big plays brought the ball down to the Elkhart six and then McKinney picked up the final six for the score. The Jaimes PAT was good and made the halftime score, 21-12.
After the break, the Elks offense was stymied on their first possession and turned the ball over on downs. The Cardinals took advantage of the opportunity and three plays later, McKinney bulled his way into the end zone to make the score 28-12, after the extra point.
A late touchdown by Kile Stipland gave the Cardinals their final margin of victory, 55-12.
The Elks are back in action on Friday, Sept. 27 as they travel to Westwood to take on the Westwood Panthers in both teams’ district opener. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm.
Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].
