The Dell Rapids St Mary defense was key to the Cardinals getting their first win of the football season. St Mary defeated the Estelline/Hendricks Redhawks 22-8 at Rickeman Field on Friday, August 24th.
The Redhawks scored first in the game after a two-play drive. Estelline/Hendricks recovered a Cardinal fumble early in the first quarter and scored two plays later for an early 6-0 lead. St Mary tied the game one play later when Weston Geraets returned the ensuing kickoff 78 yards with 9:17 to play in the first quarter to tie the game 6-6. The scored remained 6-6 at the end of the first quarter.
The only score of the second quarter went to the Redhawks. After the Cardinals recovered an Estelline/Hendricks fumble on the St Mary goal line, the Redhawks recorded a safety two plays later when they tackled Connor Libis in the endzone with 10:26 to go in the half. That gave the Redhawks an 8-6 lead which they held at halftime.
The St Mary offense was able to get going in the second half. Libis scored on rushing touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters. The first touchdown was a 10-yard run with 5:51 to play in the third quarter. Libis also scored the two point conversion to give St Mary a 14-8 lead. The final score of the game came with 10:09 to play in the game when Libis scored on a 19-yard run. Eli Longville scored the two-point conversion to make the score 22-8.
Libis went 5-14 passing for 40 yards. He also carried the ball 23 times for 80 yards, two touchdowns, and a fumble. Longville finished 1-1 passing for 35 yards, had seven carries for 21 yards, and three catches for 22 yards. Payton Park finished with 11 carries for 38 yards. Weston Geraets had two catches for 44 yards. Longville also anchored the Cardinal defense by recording 12 tackles. Geraets had 6.5 tackles and an interception. Austin Greene-LeBrun and Ryan Eining both had 5.5 tackles. Eining had a fumble recovery. Logan Wolles and Max Herber were both credited with a sack.
The Cardinals (1-1) will travel to Colman to play the Colman-Egan Hawks on Friday, August 31st. The game can be seen on Big Sioux Media.