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GIDDINGS – The Columbus Cardinals’ varsity football team knows that the path to a state title appearance starts with the important week-to-week steps that start from the first day of training camp. The Cards made a big step with the start of the regular season as they defeated the Giddings Buffaloes in a dominating, 47-12 victory that they hope sets the standard for their performances for the rest of the season.
Playing in a rematch of last year’s opening victory against the Buffaloes, Columbus repeated many of the elements they found success in during this year’s game.
Offensively, they were just as effective as they were throughout last season and got the year started with a 45+ point performance against Giddings. After scoring 21 points in the first quarter, the Cards reached their final score in the second as they went into halftime with a 47-6 lead.
Starting quarterback Adam Schobel tore the defense apart with his signature accuracy, throwing just 13 passes and completing 10 of them for three touchdowns and over 200 yards. His longest pass of the day was a connection with Jackson Hancock for a 52-yard touchdown, one of Hancock’s two TD grabs of the day. Hancock finished with a team-leading 82 receiving yards. Camdon Pitchford had the next-highest total with 49 yards, and Braylon Fisher brought in the third of Schobel’s three TD passes.
The rushing attack also played a huge role in this game as the Cards ran the ball by committee. Ty’Vone Whitehead led all rushers with 91 yards and two touchdowns, one of which came on a 44-yards scamper to the end zone. Brennan Hicks and Devin Woods had the next-highest totals with 47 and 38 yards respectively. Both of those players broke out for runs of nearly 40 yards as the Cards gashed Giddings with big plays on the ground.
The Cards were equally dominant on the defensive side of the ball. The defense shut out the Buffaloes in the first quarter and the fourth quarter as they held their opponents to an ineffective day offensively. Pitchford had the highlight of the defense with an interception return for a touchdown for the Cards first defensive touchdown of the season.
The Cards start the season with a 1-0 record and move on to face La Grange away from home on Sept. 1.
