Big Rushing Attack Leads Mabel-Canton Past LeRoy-Ostrander

Back-to-back nights of beautiful weather helped set the tone for a great 9-man football game between the Mabel-Canton Cougar and the LeRoy-Ostrander Cardinals.

The Cougars were able to ride the big rushing attack of Ryan Kuhn and Brenden Kerns, along with getting a couple of big plays from their defense en route to the 50-29 victory Friday night in LeRoy.

The Cougars got the board first on a three yard touchdown run by Kerns, his first of four touchdowns in the game. The Cardinals were not going anywhere early in this one, as they continued to be successful through the air in the first half. Trey Hungerholt hit Sean Lohuis for a 22-yard touchdown, converting on the 2-point try to take an 8-6 lead.

The Cougars were able to sharpen up defensively at the end of the first half. An interception by Ryan Kuhn stopped a Cardinal drive, which eventually turned into a touchdown run from Kerns, but then on the next Cardinal possession, it was a 56-yard pick-six by Drew Wyffels that set the tone and gave the Cougars a 20-7 lead at the half.

The Cardinals game out firing in the third quarter, and used a seven-minute drive that ended in a touchdown run by Hungerholt to pull within one score at 20-13. Yet, Mabel-Canton responded with a four play drive, and punching it in with Kerns again, really putting the game out of reach.

The Cougars scored more touchdowns there after, including a big 38-yard touchdown run by Wyffels to close the game. The Cardinals scored two late touchdowns on passes from Hungerholt to Zach Hanson and Trever Kelly to close the game out 50-29.

Kerns finished with 233 yards on the ground and four scores to be the KFIL Subway Player of the Game for Mabel-Canton, while Wyffels locked up the Kingsley Mercantile Gameball award for his play on both sides of the ball. Trevor Kelly locked up the KFIL Subway Player of the Game for the Cardinals for his exceptional defensive play and also being the safety-valve for Hungerholt on offense.