HOISINGTON — The Hoisington High School football team began Class 3A district play by blanking Lyons 30-0 on Friday night.
Hoisington head coach Lonnie Irvin said before the game that he was concerned about his team’s defense. On Friday, his defense rose up with four interceptions and a sack while holding Lyons to 186 yards of total offense — and zero points.
“There were times in the second half when we had eight sophomores on defense,” Irvin said. “They are growing up and getting better and that’s what we have to have.
“The defense played really well. They picked up some interceptions tonight that were big.”
The Cardinals’ biggest defensive triumph came in the end of the third quarter, when the Lions had the ball on Hoisington’s 25-yard line, the closest Lyons came to scoring. Lions quarterback Matthew Vincent, who threw for 100 yards and four interceptions, threw a pick in the end zone.
Ryan Bieberle was there for the Cardinals to preserve their shutout.
“They’ve got some good athletes, no question,” Lions head coach Matthew Branbo said of Hoisington. “Our kids played hard, considering the adversity we had to overcome.
“Our kids have been banged up and half of our starters are behind us in street clothes. We can take that and be proud of them for that.”
The night began with the Cardinals scoring on their first drive, when running back Taylor Stumma broke free for a 36-yard sprint to the end zone.
Stumma finished the night with monstrous 262 rushing yards and all four of the Cardinals touchdowns. Ben Stacey added another 66 rushing yards.
“I think the domination of our offensive line against their defensive line was just unbelievable,” Irvin said. “They came out and did what they had to do tonight.”
Stumma scored his second touchdown on the Cardinals’ next drive on a goal-line crash for a 1-yard score.
Irvin also said before the game that he wanted to try to pass the ball more Friday night. The Cardinals put the ball in the air three times, all incomplete passes. After the game, Irvin said he changed his mind.
“We didn’t want to,” Irvin said of passing the ball, “not when you establish the line of scrimmage the way we established it. Once we established the run so well, there was just no reason to throw it.
“There’s only three things that can happen when you throw the ball and two of them are bad.”
The Cardinals finished the game with 381 yards of total offense, all rushing yards from five different players.
Hoisington improved to 6-1 on the season and got the important first win in its district. The Cardinals face Sterling at home next week before finishing the regular season on the road at Ellsworth.