Eleva-Strum defeats Augusta in Homecoming matchup
by Dakota Sandley, student writer
The Eleva-Strum Cardinals defeated the Augusta Beavers 50-7 on Friday, Sept. 18. The Cardinals’ first play on offense set the tone for the game on a 70-yard pass from junior Jedediah Lorenz to junior Matt Higley. The long pass was quickly converted into a touchdown on a 12-yard run by Quinn Olson to put the Cardinals up 6-0.
Eleva-Strum put up 29 points in the first quarter. Lorenz threw for 71 yards to two different receivers, Higley and senior Dakota Sandley. The Cardinals ended the night with 482 yards of total offense.
Olson, a junior, led Eleva-Strum in rushing with 87 yards on just seven carries and scored three touchdowns. Also putting points on the board for E-S were senior Riley Weltzien and junior Tyes Balk, who each ran in one touchdown, and Lorenz with a score on a quarterback keeper.
Lorenz also connected with Higley for a 15-yard touchdown in the second quarter to put the Cards up 36-0 at the half.
“Offensively we played a pretty complete game, commented head coach Chad Hanson. “We were hitting on all cylinders in our running game as we were able to spread our rushing out among numerous ball carriers. Anytime you can rush for 400 yards and not have a 100-yard rusher it shows this.”
Big numbers were also contributed by Weltzien with 83 rushing yards, Lorenz with 76 yards on the ground, and junior Dustyn Topper with 57 yards on five carries.
Defense was another big statement made by the Eleva-Strum Cardinals; they gave up just under 100 yards total for the game, topped off with an interception by Higley and a blocked punt/safety by senior Axton Hynek.
The Cardinals shut out the Beavers until the fourth quarter after the second unit took the field for E-S.
“Overall, we took a step forward from the previous week,” Hanson said. “We played with a higher level of intensity from the opening kickoff to the last play of the game. I was very impressed with our ability to win all three phases of the game.”
The Cardinals improved their overall record to 4-1 and continue to be undefeated in the Dairyland Conference with a 3-0 record. The team will travel to Melrose-Mindoro to take on the Mustangs this Friday, Sept. 25.
