Photos by Jim Marczesky Cardinal Newman's Michael Beaudoin stretches for a few more yards as two Wilson Hall defenders pile on.

Ricky Crum ran for 99 yards and a touchdown as Wilson Hall spoiled the home opener for Cardinal Newman, 20- 3, on a game moved to Thursday, September 4 due to the threat of Tropical Storm Hanna.

 

Wilson Hall (3- 0) came into the game having beaten their first two opponents by a combined score of 76- 13, so most pundits believed this to be an easy game for the Barons. Cardinal Newman, though they had won the week before, was coming off of a 2- 7 year and had lost to Wilson Hall last year 48- 7. But the Cardinals are a different team this year, and the Barons found out that they would not walk over them this year.

In the first quarter, after forcing Cardinal Newman to punt, Wilson Hall took over on their own 26. Running the ball 13 of 14 plays, the Barons bled over eight minutes off the clock before quarterback Thomas White scored from four yards out. Wilson Hall led 7- 0 at the end of one period.

Cardinal Newman's Will Rainwater tackles a Baron back.

The Cardinals (1- 1) were forced to punt again on their second drive, but Crum mishandled the punt, and Thomas Winstead recovered to set the Cardinals up at the Wilson Hall 12- yard line. But Cardinal Newman could not convert on the turnover. On second down, Michael Beaudoin caught a pass in the flat and fumbled when trying to make extra yardage. The Barons recovered and avoided giving up points.

But the Cardinals did not make life easy. After the teams exchanged punts, Wilson Hall was driving at their own 36- yard line when White threw a pass over the middle that Winstead pounced on. Winstead returned the interception 31 yards to the Baron 24 with 1:46 to go in the half. The drive stalled six plays later, and Winstead kicked a 37- yard field goal as the half expired, putting the Cardinals on the board.

In the second half, Cardinal Newman forced yet another turnover, Wilson Hall's third, when they recovered a fumbled snap on their own 31. But again the Cardinals could not convert, as the Baron defense shut them down and forced a punt.

On the ensuing drive, Wilson Hall had a third- and- two at their own 47 when Crum took the handoff and split the middle of the Cardinal defense for a 53- yard touchdown run, making the score 10- 3.

The Cardinals had one more legitimate chance to score. Winstead returned the kickoff to the Cardinal 45, and the Cardinals marched to the Baron 16- yard line. But the drive stalled there, and with Winstead momentarily out with an undisclosed injury, quarterback Timmy Cunningham, last year's kicker, was called upon to try a 33- yard field goal, which he pulled left. The Barons took over at their 20, and five plays later White hit Tom DuRant for a 65- yard catch- and- run for a touchdown, sealing the game for Wilson Hall.

White ran for 46 yards and threw for 87 more, and running back Dow Harrelson provided 71 yards rushing for the Barons. Michael Bolchoz led the Cardinal defense with 12 tackles, and Greg Regan provided 10 more for the Cardinals. Winstead finished with 134 all- purpose yards.

Wilson Hall visits Hammond on September 12. Cardinal Newman travels to Bishop England.