Fast start lifts Cardinals

NEW BREMEN - Hampered by mounting injuries to key players, things snowballed for the out-manned Parkway Panthers on Friday night at Cardinals Stadium.

New Bremen scored 42 first-quarter points and rolled to a 56-14 Homecoming victory in its home and Midwest Athletic Conference opener.

"We're young, and we have a lot of injuries right now," Parkway coach Brian Schmidt said. "I got to love a couple of those boys that have been doing treatments and wanted to try tonight, but we pulled them early."

Among the injured was Parkway quarterback Jacoby Triplett, who gave way to sophomore Perry Schwieterman.

Taking advantage of two turnovers, a long punt return and positive field position, New Bremen scored on drives of 6, 3, 3, 1,1, and 2 plays in the first quarter.

"We knew what we were up against and New Bremen is going to go far. They are a really good team," Brian Schmidt said. "We got a little shell shocked early because of the size and speed of that team. Their smallest player is bigger than about 14 of my freshmen. That's a fact."

New Bremen junior Jacob Kelly rushed 152 yards and scored four touchdowns, including a four-yard scoring run on the Cardinals opening drive.

"We talked about making sure we got off to a fast start and taking control of what we can control," said New Bremen coach Chris Schmidt, who saw his team improve to 3-0. "The last thing we want, coming off of two victories to get complacent."

Kelly would add scoring runs of 38, 6 and 21 yards in the opening period. Pierce Whitlatch added a four-yard touchdown run and quarterback Gavin Dicke tossed a 16-yard scoring strike to Gavin Quellhorst.

"We know we're still far, far away from being where we want to be. I was just glad to see the way we came out and were focused," Chris Schmidt said. "This was our first time at home, and that can kind of get you off track and not as focused. But I was really pleased with how we came out and were able to take advantage of some of those opportunities."

By mutual agreement of both coaches, the running clock started in the second quarter, and the only points put on the board came on an eight-yard run by Owen Bornhorst with 5:50 left in the first half.

Parkway (0-3, 0-1) opened the second half with a 10-play, 80-yard scoring drive capped with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Schwieterman to fellow sophomore Jack Ross. It was the first points New Bremen has allowed this season.

Cardinal sophomore A.J. Rismiller countered with a 21-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter.

Schwieterman would then close out the scoring with a 13-yard touchdown pass to John Yoder with 4:35 left in the game.

"One of the things that we're trying to do here, and this is really important, is we're trying to build a program. To do that you've got to understand that you have to fight through adversity," Brian Schmidt said. "At halftime we said, 'let's win the second half.' And we did that, so I'm proud of that. That's how you build a program, but we've got a long way to go."

The Panthers return home next Friday to host Minster.

Chris Schmidt is hoping the season-opening MAC win will provide some needed confidence for next Friday's trip to Versailles where the Tigers are also off to a 3-0 start.

"It's funny because 10 years ago we were just trying to win any MAC game, and now that we can get started off on the right foot in the conference with a win and I think that's a big deal," he said. "We gained some confidence, but I think the good thing is the guys still understand that there's a lot of work to do."