The Dell Rapids St Mary Cardinal football team snapped a two-game skid with an impressive 46-16 victory over the Castlewood Warriors at home on Friday, September 8th.
Nic Gaspar got the fireworks going at Rickeman Field with a 75-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to start the game. A two-point conversion put St Mary ahead 8-0 right away. Castlewood tied the game 8-8 with 5:46 to play in the first quarter on a 24-yard touchdown pass and two-point conversion. St Mary regained the lead on a three-yard touchdown run by #4 and another made two-point conversion. The first quarter ended with the Cardinals leading 16-8.
On a fourth day play in the second quarter, Owen Vargas connected with Lucas Flemmer on a 16-yard touchdown pass to extend the St Mary lead to 22-8. The score remained 22-8 at halftime.
Gaspar extended the Cardinal lead in the third quarter on a three-yard touchdown run. After a two-point conversion, St Mary led 30-8. Castlewood scored again on a three-yard pass with 2:18 to play in the third quarter. A made two-point conversion cut the lead to 30-16. Flemmer had a four-yard touchdown run. Another two-point conversion put St Mary ahead 38-16. Lincoln LeBrun scored the last touchdown with 3:22 to play in the game on a three-yard run.
The Cardinals finished with 288 yards of offense, 242 rushing yards and 46 passing yards. Castlewood had 242 yards of offense, 101 rushing yards and 141 passing yards.
Gaspar had 16 carries for 125 yards and touchdown. Flemmer finished with 15 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown. LeBrun added eight carries for 18 yards and a touchdown. Trimmier Hanson had six carries for 17 yards and a touchdown. Vargas was 2-7 passing for 46 yards and a touchdown. Camden Gilbert had a catch for 30 yards, and Flemmer had a catch for 16 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively for the Cardinals, Gaspar had 12 tackles, two sackes, and a forced fumble. Keaton Hansen had 10 tackles. Flemmer had five tackles and an interception. Logan Bauer had three tackles and a sack. Gilbert and Hanson each had three tackles. Maverick LeBrun ended with 2.5 tackles, a fumble recovery, and a sack. Kade Lutt had a tackle, sack, and fumble recovery.
“The boys played well. They played physical and fast. I was very impressed by their effort throughout the whole game! I thought our offensive and defensive lines played a great game. Our backs hit the holes hard, and we passed efficiently. It was a total team effort,” said head coach Ross Flemmer.
