Cardinals go down early, drop first game at Redwater

Photo by John Niesner FIND SOME RUNNING ROOM — Sabine's Jacob Kenna (center) tries to scramble away from Redwater defenders in Friday night's season opener for the two teams in Redwater. Sabine went down by four scores in the first half and couldn't manage a lot of offense in the 34-12 defeat in the first game of the Jerry Baker coaching era. The Cardinals host Troup on Friday night at James Bamberg Stadium. REDWATER — The Sabine Cardinals dropped their season opener to the Redwater Dragons, 34-12, on the road Friday night.

In the first game under new head coach Jerry Baker, the Cardinals suffered through a sloppy first half, and then battled toe to toe with the Dragons in the second half, but it was too little too late for Sabine (0-1).

Hunter McPherson fielded the opening kickoff at his own 4- yard-line. He returned the ball 22 yards to his own 26. The Dragons went right to work on their first possession when quarterback Christian Wright handed off to McPherson on an endaround play that was good for 54 yards down to the Cardinal seven yard line. Daniel Francis punched it in two plays later with a 2-yard run around the right side for the touchdown. The Dragons led 7-0 with 9:51 to play in the first quarter.

The Cardinals first possession fizzled as Lie'Quan Byrd was forced to punt for the Cardinals. Redwater immediatley took their second possession and cashed in with 5:11 left in the first quarter when Meadors broke through the middle of the Cardinals defense on a 38-yard run on fourth-down-and-3.

Sabine's second possession netted very little yards and ended with a Byrd fumble recovered by the Dragons. Redwater cashed in on the turnover, scoring five plays later on Jarrell Meadors second touchdown run of the night.

The Dragons netted six points in the second quarter on a McPherson 18-yard run with 9:38 left. Redwater went into the locker room with a commanding 27-0 advantage over the Cardinals.

The third quarter was a pure defensive struggle as neither team could muster much offense. The Cardinal offense caught fire in the fourth quarter, led by quarterback Jacob Kenna, who scored on a 6-yard keeper to move the Cardinals within 21 of the Dragons with 8:37 left in the game, and the score 27-6. Kenna was 4-of-11 passing for 32 yards and one touchdown.

The Cardinals' defense stonewalled the Dragons on their next possession forcing a punt on fourth-and-7.

Sabine would take over on the Dragons 41 and was forced to punt on a three-and-out series. The Cardinals' defense stepped up and forced a Redwater fumble on the Dragons' 7, recovered by Logan Edmondson.

The Cardinals would score again in the fourth quarter when Kenna found junior Laramy Barber open in the end zone for a 5-yard scoring strike with 3:54 left in the game.

Bernard Alexander was stopped short on the two-point conversion run by the Dragons' Willie Doyle and the score was 27-12.

Taylor Gray's onside kick was recovered by the Dragons. Redwater then began a five-play running caravan with just over a minute to play, capped off by Dewey Fleming's 25-yard scoring run up the middle of the field. Fleming's touchdown and the ensuing extra point rounded out the scoring, 34-12.

Redwater tailback Jerrell Meadors rushed for 97 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries. The Cardinal offense racked up just 110 yards of total offense, with 66 coming on the ground, while Redwater amassed 328 yards rushing on the night and 336 total yards.

Sabine will play its 2008 home opener on Friday night against the Troup Tigers. Redwater has an open date next week, facing Dierks, Ark., on September 12.