St. Mary Football Wins Exciting Opening Game - Big Sioux Media Sports Network

Jared Scholten running in for touchdown in 1st quarter.

The St Mary Cardinals out of Dell Rapids ignited the hometown crowd with a 34-28 win over DeSmet/Iroquois Friday night in their opening game of the 2012 season…a game that was streamed live on Big Sioux Media.com. The Cardinals jumped out to a 6-0 lead at the end of the first quarter following a Wes Heinricy pass to Jared Scholten for a touchdown.

Josh Brown on his way to a touchdown in 2nd quarter.

Then at the start of the 2nd quarter, Josh Brown broke left and scored their 2nd TD of the game with the 2-point conversion good. St Mary then allowed the visitors to get their only touchdown of the first half. But before intermission St Mary once again added two more score. Brown and Scholten both found their way into the end zone before halftime. St Mary led at halftime, 26-8. The Eagles though roared back in the 2nd half scoring twice and trailed only by 4 points with just over 2-minutes to play.

The Eagles then took the lead, 28-26 with 2:04 showing on the clock in the 4th quarter. St Mary worked the ball down the field, and scored what appeared to be the go ahead touchdown, but a holding call negated the touchdown, so they lined it up again. On 4th down Heinricy found Noel Hanson in the end zone putting the Cardinals up 34-28 with :26 seconds remaining.

Noel Hansen with game-winning touchdown catch in 4th quarter

DeSmet/Iroquois took the ball down the field and with :06 seconds left and put themselves in position to tie the game. Their first attempt to tie the game up was knocked away and left :01 still on the clock. The final pass play by the Eagles was incomplete, and the Cardinals won their first game of the year.

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