August 25, 2011 at 1:50 p.m.
Cardinals come back to beat Belmont
The two Six Rivers teams met at UW-Platteville on the university's field to see who would grab the top spot in the conference at least for a week.
The Cardinals saw the lead go back and forth until they tied it in the second quarter and won it in the final frame, 20-12.
Tyler Kleist scored the game winner in the fourth quarter on a three yard run and he added the two point conversion for good measure.
It was the second touchdown of the game for Kleist who also crossed the goal line with the first score of the game on a 31 yard scamper.
Brandon Wedig tied it for the Braves on a 21 yard run in the second quarter.
A 31 yard pass play--Blake Bodenstein to Caleb Yager gave the Cardinals a 12-6 lead in the second frame.
Wedig came back through with another touchdown, this one from one yard away and tied it before halftime.
Neither team scored in the third quarter but it was Kleist to the rescue in the fourth. He stepped in from the three and added the conversion.
Blake Bodenstein was four for five passing for 80 yards with one touchdown.
Bailey Bodenstein had two catches for 56 yards and one TD reception.
Levi Linschied had two catches for 24 yards.
Running the football, Tyler Kleist had 18 carries for 112 yards, two TD's and one two point conversion
Highland coach Shaun Reuter was pleased with the offense and the defensive effort.
"Our defense held them to 116 yards on 39 carries," he said.
"I was very pleased with the way we competed," Reuter said. "We fell behind but were able to battle back and get the win."
"I felt that they were wearing us down in the first half up front with their size advantage but in the second half, I felt that we were able to wear them down," Reuter said. "We started to move the ball a little better and were doing a better job of stopping their running game. We still have a lot of things to improve on but were happy to get out of there with a win."
The Cardinals host Shullsburg Friday.
