The Luverne Cardinals entered Friday night’s Section 3AAA Championship Game boasting one of the stingiest defensive units in the area. It was a unit that recorded three shutouts and was giving up 13.6 points per game.
Those defensemen stood tall again Friday, Nov. 20, against Sibley East. The Cardinals defense didn’t give up a point until the very end en route to a 44-6 section championship victory.
Luverne’s defense set the tone early when Zach Kruse recorded a strip-sack that set up the Cardinals at Sibley East’s 31-yard line.
It only took the Cardinals four plays to cash in on that turnover. LaShad Smith scored on an eight-yard rushing touchdown. Smith also scored on the two-point conversion to put the Cardinals up 8-0 early in the first quarter.
With 3:36 remaining in the first quarter, it was Luverne’s defense once again making a play. Smith came down with an interception to put an end to a Sibley East drive.
On a fourth and one from Sibley East’s 46-yard line, the Cardinals opted to go for it to keep the chains moving. Smith converted the fourth down attempt by busting off on a 30-yard run.
A few plays after the fourth-down conversion, Bailey Cowell scored on a four-yard rushing touchdown. Casey Sehr connected with Cowell on the two-point conversion to put the Cardinals up 16-0.
With 1:33 left in the first half, Cowell connected with Shaid Shearer on a 14-yard passing touchdown to put the Cardinals up 22-0.
Sibley East was inside Luverne territory when Zach Ahrendt recovered a fumble at the 35-yard line.
The Cardinals converted that turnover into points when Ashton Sandbulte scored on a seven-yard rushing touchdown. Sehr connected with Cade Wenninger on the two-point conversion to put the Cardinals up 30-0.
Just two plays after catching the two-point conversion, Wenninger recorded an interception for the Cardinals.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Sehr hooked up with Cowell on a 28-yard passing touchdown. The Cardinals led 37-0 after scoring the extra point.
The Cardinals’ defense once again made a play on the next Sibley East possession. Cowell forced a fumble that was recovered by Jamie McCarthy.
With 6:59 left in the game, Smith recorded his second interception of the game.
The Cardinals’ defense put points on the board after Sandbulte recorded a strip-sack that was recovered by Andy Halverson who recovered the fumble in the end zone. Following the extra point the Cardinals led 44-0.
As time expired, Sibley East scored on a 38-yard passing touchdown to make the final score 44-6.
Luverne 8 14 8 14 44
Sibley East 0 0 0 6 6
Passing: Sehr 4-5, 79 yards, 1 TD; Cowell 2-6 24 yards, 1 TD
Rushing: Smith 20-129-1; Sandbulte 6-41-1; Cowell 6-25-1
Receiving: G. Ahrent 41 yards; Cowell 28 yards 1 TD; Shearer 14 yards 1 TD
Tackles: McLaughlin 6; Overgaard 4; McCarthy 3
