E-S football sets the tone for 2015 season with big win over Colfax
by Beth Kraft
Continuing its success from the 2014 season that netted co-Dairyland Conference championship status, the Eleva-Strum football team wasted no time establishing itself as a force to be reckoned with following a 46-8 romp over Colfax in non-conference play at home on Friday night, Aug. 21.
Junior quarterback Jed Lorenz put the Cardinals on the scoreboard in the game’s opening minute, breaking away from the defense for a 72-yard run to paydirt—one of two such scores for Lorenz in the game. The second long touchdown run—a 70-yarder—came about three minutes in to the third quarter as the E-S line came through with great blocking and Lorenz broke several tackles and dodged defenders on his way to the end zone to give the Cards the 38-0 advantage.
Lorenz finished the game with three touchdowns total, logging 137 yards on the ground to lead a deep rushing corps for the Cardinals that racked up 435 yards total.
Seven others registered yardage including juniors Dustyn Topper and Quinn Olson, who ran for 85 and 80 yards, respectively, and one touchdown apiece.
While the E-S offense went to work early on shredding the Colfax defense, building a 22-0 lead in the first quarter that swelled to 30-0 at the half, the Cardinals’ defense wasn’t giving the Vikings any easy scores.
Junior Cade Kunferman came up with a pick in the second quarter on Colfax quarterback Jarrod Rudi, running the interception back 65 yards to account for touchdown number four of six for E-S.
The defense also sacked the Vikings’ quarterbacks five times, and junior Jacob Hong snagged the Cardinals’ second interception of the game that set up Topper’s touchdown near the end of the third quarter.
Juniors Mitchell Hong, Bennett Moen and senior Dakota Sandley led E-S with nine tackles apiece.
The Vikings were held scoreless until the 7:08 mark in the fourth quarter after much of the Cardinals’ starting lineup had retired to the sideline.
Eleva-Strum will head to Elk Mound this Thursday, Aug. 27, for another non-conference match-up that could be indicative of the Cardinals’ mettle heading into Dairyland Conference play next week.
