October 21, 2016 at 10:10 a.m.
Cardinals look forward to match-up with Iowa-Grant
So, when they are playing the smallest school in that division Friday it won't matter to either team. Highland is used to being the little guy when it comes to enrollment but they like to think of themselves as big in every other way. The Cardinals have rolled to a 6-2 season in the tough Six Rivers. earning second behind Pecatonica/Argyle who finished undefeated. They are 6-3 overall.
Iowa-Grant completed the SWAL season in second place at 4-2. They are 5-4 overall.
The both have a common opponent they met during the season in Pecatonica/Argyle. The Vikings won against both teams, beating Iowa-Grant 35-12 and Highland 27-10.
"We don't think the division matters," Iowa-Grant coach Gary Allen says. "Highland is well coached and has some good athletes. We will need to play well."
"Getting back to the playoff was one of our goals this season," Highland coach Mike Aide says. "The players are excited to play Iowa- Grant on Friday. Both teams are very familiar with one another off the field. Some have played youth football and wrestled together and have respect for one another. Coach Allen has a great team and he will have them ready to play and It should be a great game Friday."
When it came to seeding Highland earned the fourth seed along with the right to host.
Iowa-Grant is the number five seed and will take the 15 minute trip to Highland for a 7 p.m. kick off.
The Cardinals ended their Six Rivers season with an impressive 29-6 win over Benton/Scales Mounds, putting all their points on the board in the first three quarters.
The win came after a week off as the Cardinals lost Cassville on their schedule when the Comets forfeited the season but while the lay-off let some rust collect, it helped in other ways.
"We got back into the grove Friday night week having the week off with the Cassville bye," Highland coach Mike Aide said. "It helped us get some players healed up during that week."
Even though the Cardinals were not in full sync early in the game they still had their most prolific quarter in the first. Highland put up 13 first quarter points while adding eight in the second and third frames.
John Ross Linscheid hit Spencer Linscheid with an 11 yard pass for the first touchdown for the Cards and Drew Hennessey kicked the conversion.
The second score of the frame was a 50 yard pass play, JR Linscheid to Hennessey that made it 13-0.
"We were a little rusty but played with energy throughout the game," Aide said. "Benton came out and played well knowing it was their last game of the year."
John Ross scampered in from the 41 and added the conversion in the second frame to send the Cards into halftime ahead 21-0.
The Cards finished their run with a 15 yard conversion that Bray Drury carried into the end zone. Linscheid ran for the conversion.
Benton put up its lone score when Aaron Coffey got in from the six in the third frame.
It was a good night for the Cardinals to get more of their receivers involved and an equally good night for Spencer Linscheid and Bray Drury to contribute. Spencer's lone touch ended up in the end zone while Bray caught a pair of passes for 30 yards. Hennessey also grabbed two for 69 yards.
"We did a good job moving the ball around to other receivers," said Aide. "Bray Drury did a great job at receiver and made some key blocks. Benton gave us some different looks and John Ross did a great job finding open receivers. Drew Hennessey made some big plays as well. We got some good looks at some of our players and need to correct some issues. "
JR Linscheid had 15 carries for 139 yards and Adam Wolfe picked up 80 on 10 carries. Hennessey also got into the running game with six carries for 43 yards.
JR made some great reads to gain some big yards," Aide said. "Adam Wolfe has a big part to do with that as he ran the ball well and carried out good fakes which allows JR to get those yards. Our line had some trouble with Benton defensive line but sustained their blocks long enough to create lanes for those two."
Aide said the defense also had some big moments.
"Our linebackers played a very sound game and made some big tackles behind the line of scrimmage," said Aide. "Ryan Minter picked up a fumble and had a big return into Benton territory. Overall the defense was very sound but made a few mistakes that we will cover in practice this week."
Hennessey had 13 tackles, four for losses, and a sack. Wolfe added 11 stops, two for loss. Hunter Wiest and Mitchell Welsh each were involved in 11 tackles. Besides Minter's fumble recovery, JR Linscheid had an interception.
Another key for the Cardinals all season has been Hennessey's punting. He boomed three Friday, averaging 42 yards with his longest carrying 46 yards.
"Drew has had a great season as our punter and puts our defense in a great field position," Aide added. "It is very important that our special teams work on the little things and we have done a good job so far. Drew is a very talented athlete and works very hard at everything. He has been a big part to the success we have had this season."
Next up is the date with the Panthers tomorrow night and Aide feels the win last Friday has helped the Cardinals prepare.
"Ending the season with a win helps us so we have some momentum going into Friday nights game with Iowa-Grant," Aide said.
The full bracket for Group C is #8 North Crawford at #1 Ithaca, #5 Iowa-Grant at #4 Highland, #6 Wauzeka-Steuben/Seneca at #3 Black Hawk and #7 Potosi at #2 Loyal.
All games are at 7 pm Friday.
