Huge first quarter outburst sinks Cardinals

RANDOLPH - Archangels Catholic sprinted to a huge first-quarter lead, but there was no quit in the Randolph Cardinals as they outscored the Defenders 28 -16 the rest of the way.

Unfortunately, Archangels grabbed a 46-0 lead in the first 12 minutes.

“The game sure started out rough for us and the kids could have given up,” said Randolph coach Mark Lech. “They didn’t. It was great to see the leaders keep everyone’s spirits up and keep battling.”

Instead of hanging their heads, the Cardinals got busy making the most of the final three quarters.

“It paid off with our team getting some big plays and some scoring chances,” Lech said “The offense believed they and we could move the ball from the second quarter on and we helped build some confidence going forward.”

After the Defenders got up by the 46-0 score, Ryan Engel got busy moving the ball on the ground and through the air.

Engel found Bentley Reimers from 22 yards out for the Cardinals first score of the night then Engel ran one in for himself later in the second frame from the three yard line and the score was 54-12.

Engel then hit Reimers from 12 yards away for another score in the third and hit Luke Harder on the 2-point conversion to make the score 54-20.

“Our receivers stepped up and caught some big passes with Bentley Reimers leading the way giving everyone a spark,” Lech said. “I am hoping with our young team, we keep getting better and build on this game.”

Engel would score again on the ground on a 1-yard plunge then ran in the conversion to reach the final score.

He ended his night with a more-than-respectable, 13-for-26 performance through the air for 184 yards and a couple of touchdowns and 81 yards on the ground with two more scores.

Reimers caught eight aerials for 108 yards and also posted a couple of scores.

Harder caught a couple of passes for 56 yards and the conversion while Tate Brodersen hauled in three Engel passes for 20 yards.

Brodersen and Eli Bermel paced the Redbird defense with nine tackles each, Cole Jensen and Kody Junck had eight apiece and Jaylen Junck had seven stops.

The Cards will continue their season with a game back at home against 1-1 Creighton on Sept. 12.

The Bulldogs are coming off of a 60-26 loss to Wynot after defeating Niobrara/Verdigre in the season opener, 54-22.

AC 46 8 0 8 - 62 RAN 0 12 8 8 - 28

FIRST QUARTER

AC: Gavin Geilenkirchen 68 kickoff return, Geilenkirchen run. 0-8. AC: Ethan Wiesler 1 run, Tucker Czarnick run. 0-16. AC: Geilenkirchen 49 run, PAT no good. 0-22. AC: Geilenkirchen 60 punt return, Czarnick run. 0-30. AC: Geilenkirchen 45 punt return, Jacob Keller pass from Wiesler. 0-38. AC: Geilenkirchen 33 run, Czarnick 3 run. 0-46.

SECOND QUARTER

RAN: Bentley Reimers 22 pass from Ryan Engel, PAT no good. 6-46. AC: Matthew Zach 4 run, Jett Reichmuth pass from Tate Wietfeld. 6-54. RAN: Ryan Engel 3 run, PAT no good. 12-54.

THIRD QUARTER

RAN: Bentley Reimers 12 pass from Ryan Engel, Luke Harder pass from Ryan Engel. 20-54.

FOURTH QUARTER

AC: Zach 9 run, Zach run. 20-60. RAN: Ryan Engel 1 run, Ryan Engel run. Randolph Passing Yards: 13-26 184 2TD Randolph Rushing Yards: 35-111 2TD Randolph Total Yards: 295 Randolph Passing: Ryan Engel 13-26 184 2TD. Randolph Individual Rushing: Milo Rayford 10-13; Tate Brodersen 4-13; Ryan Engel 19-81 2TD; Eli Bermel 2-4.

Randolph Individual Receiving: Tate Brodersen 3-20; Bentley Reimers 8-108 2TD; Luke Harder 2-56.

RandolphIndividualTackles: OwenJunck2;ColeJensen 8; Tate Brodersen 9; Jaylen Junck 7; Brentley Reimers 4; Bentley Bonczynski 1; Ty Sievers 6; Kody Junck 8; Eli Bermel 9; Luke Harder 2.

Cardinals 2025 Football Schedule

Sept. 12 Creighton Sept. 19 at Wynot Sept. 26 at Bancroft-Rosalie Oct. 3 Lyons Decatur NE Oct. 10 Walthill Oct. 17 at Winside Oct. 23 Playoffs

Cardinals 2025 Volleyball Schedule

Sept. 9 Winnebago Sept. 11 Tri County NE Sept. 11 Osmond Sept. 15 Madison Sept. 15 Bloomfield Sept. 18 Wausa Sept. 23 at Walthill Sept. 25 at St. Mary’s Sept. 30 Creighton Oct. 7 Creighton Oct. 7 Neligh-Oakdale Oct. 9 at Bloomfield Oct. 14 Plainview Oct. 14 Wynot Oct. 16 Osmond Oct. 16 Boyd County Oct. 18 at L&C Tny