Second-half surge sinks Cardinals
Alan Dale
Randolph Times
Randolph — Things continue to be promising for Randolph football even if the results don’t quite add up.
The Cardinals trailed Winside 14-12 at halftime last week before the bottom fell out in the second half and Randolph lost its third straight game, 66-12, to fall to 1-5 overall and 0-3 in district play.
“Multiple injuries halfway through the third quarter allowed Winside to open up a sizable lead,” Randolph coach Mark Lech said. “We played a lot of underclassmen to finish the game and were unable to hold back the Wildcats in the fourth quarter giving up 30 points.
“The question going forward will be how many of the injuries will be longer term and affect the play this coming Friday against Homer.”
Randolph hosts Homer with a 7 p.m. Homecoming night kickoff.
“I believe the kids will be fired up because of Homecoming and all of the activities that take place during the week,” Lech said. “The team will have to regroup and prepare for a different style as Homer plays a little wider open than our last two opponents.
“Homer is coming off of a big win against Emerson-Hubbard, so they will be looking to add to that momentum.”
Lech’s penchant this year for playing underclassmen is no more apparent than his use of freshman Aiden Gubbels.
The fresh-faced ninth grader has taken the most of his opportunities and has given more than his pound of flesh while making an impression.
“He is a freshman that has been thrust into playing a lot of football due to injuries of other players,” Lech said of Gubbels. “He has held up well with a lot of pressure in big moments. He is constantly getting better and has really improved from the beginning of the season.”
Gubbels, a center who has worked on playing guard, takes the situation in stride and has jumped on the opportunity.
“My first game I was a little bit nervous, but after the first few plays I kind of snapped out of it and got going,” Gubbels said. “We are lucky that COVID hasn’t affected us so much and that’s been nice since we haven’t had any scares of it if you want to call it that. The coaches have been really helpful during the process and some of the senior linemen are helping me and giving me tips to help me through it.”
He admits that the step up from junior high football was an adjustment, but the help by the older players has really aided Gubbels to raise his level of confidence.
“It’s just making sure you are working hard in practice and listening to the coaches,” he said. “I went to summer weights, I conditioned and lifted. I tried to do the list of things to help keep me in shape and get stronger and better.”
Gubbels has a few other freshmen on the roster that are getting some run in the rotation which helps him have someone his age to lean on.
“It has definitely helped,” Gubbels said. “Sometimes I feel like I am the only one representing our class, but since they are playing more it helps ease off on the pressure.”
Gubbels does not have any visions of becoming a tight end catching touchdown passes or trying something more dynamic.
“I am going to stay on the line,” he said. “That’s what I know best.”
In order for the Cardinals to move forward these next few weeks as they hope to make the playoffs, health is the name of the game for a team that has gotten besieged by ailments throughout the roster.
“We are in that part of the year where all of the players know the system and should be prepared to play at any time,” Lech said. “We have been extremely fortunate in playing all of our games to this point with no interruption. Several games in our area have been cancelled due to Covid-19, but we have not had that problem so far. “We treat each week’s game as a blessing and continue to try and improve and just enjoy being out there on a Friday night.”
Randolph 6 6 0 0 12 — 12
Winside 14 0 22 30 —66
WINS RAN
Passing 8 37
Rushing 360 79
First Downs 16 10
Turnovers 2 4
Penalties-Yds 5-50 3-20
Passing Randolph - Tyson Junck, 6-13-32; Isaiah Salmon, 1-2-5; Justin Haselhorst, 0-1. Winside - Art Escalante, 1-6-6.
Rushing Randolph - Justin Haselhorst, 18-55; Tristan Mosel, 4-11; Tyson Junck, 8-9; Bryson Eledge, 6-4; Isaiah Salmon, 3-0. Winside - Gabe Escalante, 22-202; Cayden Ellis, 2-104; Art Escalante, 11-47; Jacob Paulson, 5-16; Maddox Magwire, 3-3.
RECEIVING Randolph - Justin Hashelhorst, 5-25; Tristan Mosel, 1-7; Bryson Eledge, 1-5;
TACKLES Randolph - Justin Haselhorst, 8; Tyson Junck, 7; Collyn Beal, 6; Cadein Villwok, 5; Tristan Mosel, 5; Colby Wathor, 5; Tom Korth, 5; Andy Hausman, 3; Aiden Gubbels, 2; Isaiah Salmon, 1; Bryson Eledge, 1.
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