Mustangs fall short on the road against Huskies

Sep. 7—MIDDLEFIELD — The Mustangs’ mood was as gloomy as the weather.

Grand Valley, seeking its first win of the 2024 season and snapping a seven-game losing streak dating back to last year, had a series of miscues that were exceptionally costly in a 36-33 loss to Cardinal on Friday night.

The Mustangs led 33-20 following an impressive six-play, 50-yard drive on the opening possession of the third quarter. Senior Andrew Soltis scored the last of his three touchdowns with a 26-yard scamper, but the conversion run failed.

The Huskies (1-2) answered with a six-play scoring drive of their own to close to within 33-27, then recovered an onside kick. Four plays later, Cardinal went in front on a 29-yard pass from Cal Ciminello to Reese Soltis.

Reese Soltis scored four touchdowns through the air, setting a new school record, according to Cardinal athletics staff.

He also returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown.

The conversion kick by Landon Gallagher gave the Huskies a 34-33 lead with 3:53 left in the third quarter.

From that point, GV had three offensive series but couldn’t recapture the efficiency from earlier in the game.

The Mustangs had a promising drive short-circuited by a pair of holding penalties and were forced to punt.

Then, after stopping the Huskies inside their 10 early in the fourth quarter, GV went three-and-out and with Sammy Goforth in punt formation from inside his end zone, opted for an intentional safety with 6:06 to go.

Cardinal received the free kick and ran five minutes off the clock. The Mustangs made another fourth down stop at their 35 with 1:03 to go.

Goforth scrambled on four consecutive plays for 25 yards, but another penalty, for an illegal block in the back, set GV back yet again.

Goforth ran for a first down and out of bounds with 1 second left to the 50 but his desperation throw to the end…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/mustangs-fall-short-road-against-131600950.html

Author : Star Beacon, Ashtabula, Ohio

Publish date : 2024-09-07 13:16:00

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