Randolph falls short against Pirates
RANDOLPH — Hopes were high for the Randolph Cardinals football team last weekend when they took to the field against Emerson-Hubbard.
After starting 0-2, the host Cardinals hoped history would repeat itself as Randolph beat Emerson-Hubbard a year ago for their lone win.
However, the hosts fell into a 34-0 hole prior to halftime and ended up dropping a 42-18 decision to remain winless this campaign.
“We were able to generate some offense and Collyn Beal had a good day in the backfield by gaining 114 yards on 26 carries,” Randolph head coach Mark Lech said. “Jacob Calder caught five passes for 63 yards and two touchdowns. Isaiah Salmon played well on offense and on defense.”
Salmon passed for 86 yards and those two touchdowns with Calder while adding 25 yards on the ground.
“We moved the ball but struggled to put it in the endzone in the first quarter,” Lech said. “We had opportunities but came up short on several occasions. Defensively, the Cardinals gave up too many big plays. Emerson-Hubbard broke tackles and made short gains into long touchdowns and the second quarter deficit was too much for us to overcome.”
Beal said that the Cardinals went into the game feeling good to win and the effort was there, but it just didn’t work out.
“It definitely wasn’t the outcome we wanted, but for the team that we have, I think we did OK,” Beal said. “It was my first-time playing running back and I don’t think I did too bad. It’s just our defense killed us and our stupid little penalties. It is just the youngins not knowing exactly what we are doing. We have only three seniors and two juniors, so we have a lot of sophomores and freshmen.
“So, it’s definitely inexperience.”
Football being that it needs physical maturity to play a key to success, Beal understands the young players need time to grow into their bodies and the sport.
“(They turn the corner) when the youngins aren’t afraid of tackling, trying to run the ball down the middle: It’s when they stop being afraid,” Beal said. “Right now, for how young they are, I let it slide: It’s only our third game. It gets to a point where it is a super easy tackle and they don’t want to run and go hit it, my patience level is there.
“But if it is an open field tackle and he’s tripping over himself and they are still too afraid to hit him, then I might snap and say, ‘Come on, now.’”
Beal said that he hopes to see an uptick in execution up and down the roster as the season enters the second half of the calendar.
“By the fifth game against Winside, that’s when we have to definitely start to step it up,” Beal said. “We are still learning. But I like their positivity in the locker room. They are always confident that we are going to win, and it is starting to show it on the field.
“Practices are a lot better than it was in the first week. This game, we didn’t win, but we had a lot more people trying harder.”
Randolph travels to play rivals Wynot 5 p.m. Friday.
“Wynot has traditionally been a strong opponent and we expect nothing less this year,” Lech said. “We have split the game the last two years and will have to play well to upset the Blue Devils this year.”
Randolph 0 6 6 6 — 18
Em-Hub 14 20 0 8 —42
Randolph Em-Hub
Passing 9-17-86 3-4-33
Rushing 51-161 41-323
Total yards 247 356
First Downs 16 13
Penalties 2-15 6-52
PASSING
RHS - Isaiah Salmon, 9-16-86; Dayton Winkelbauer, 1-0-0.
RUSHING
RHS - Collyn Beal, 26-114; Isaiah Salmon, 15-25; Bryson Eledge, 10-22.
RECEIVING
RHS - Jacob Calder, 5-63; Collyn Beal, 3-14; Bryson Eledge, 1-9.
TACKLES
RHS - Bryson Eledge, 13; Tom Korth, 13; Isaiah Salmon, 11; Collyn Beal, 10; Aiden Gubbels, 9; Ajay Gubbels, 6; Andy Hausmann, 5; Shaw Backer, 5; Jacob Calder, 3; Dominic Wilcox, 3.
