Johnie Hodge and Will Rainwater corral Pinewood Prep's Ryan Steed. Cardinal Newman's 2007 season got off to a less than stellar start with a 35- 6 loss to the Pinewood Prep Panthers Friday, August 24.

The Panthers started the scoring with their defense. Defensive back K. J. Manigault jumped a route and intercepted Jones Brown's pass, returning it 15 yards for a touchdown on the first offensive play. Later in the quarter, defensive back Damien Simmons intercepted another Brown pass and returned it to the Cardinal 48. On the next play, senior quarterback Ryan Steed kept the option himself and ran 48 yards to pay dirt.

In the second quarter, after the teams traded missed field goals, Pinewood was forced to punt. But the punt deflected off a Cardinal blocker and was recovered by the Panthers. Two plays later, Steed scored again, this time from 24 yards away. The three Cardinal Newman turnovers had led to 21 unanswered points.

The Cardinals seemed to get a little momentum going at the end of the second quarter. They put together a 61- yard scoring drive with a little over a minute left in the half, capped by a 20- yard strike from Brown to senior receiver Palmer Stokes. As the Panthers tried to answer before halftime, James Williams sacked Steed for a 12- yard loss and kept Pinewood from running another play before the half ended.

Davis Lemon led the Cardinals with 50 yards rushing. The momentum continued into the second half, as Pinewood lost 17 yards on their first possession. But Cardinal Newman was forced to punt, and the Panthers marched 41 yards to another touchdown, capped off by a 1- yard plunge by Melvin Lesure. Pinewood then scored their final touchdown on their next possession, with Manigault hauling in a 28-yard pass from Steed.

The Cardinals finished with four turnovers and nine penalties, while the Panthers had one turnover and ten penalties.

Cardinal Newman will be back in action August 31 at home game against Christ School from Asheville, NC.

CN's Palmer Stokes lays out for a pass. Stokes had two receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown. Photos by Jim Marczesky