12U Cardinals have perfect regular season

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Neighbors | Submitted.The Canfield 140 pound players are shown taking an offensive stance against Boarman Oct. 5.

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Neighbors | Submitted.Payton Kostelic, a member of the 140 pound Canfield Little Cardinals team, is shown blocking for running back Ethan Fletcher against Boardman Oct. 5.

On Oct. 5, the undefeated 140 pound Canfield Cardinals took the field on defense against the Boardman Spartans.

The Cardinals entered the game as six point underdogs due to multiple injuries and last minute substitutions. Nick Crawford (shoulder) was missing as an outside linebacker and fullback. Crawford’s backup fullback and starting defensive end Anthony D’Alesio (concussion) left the Cards without any fullbacks. Peyton Kostelic (knee) was a game time decision and played sparingly at defensive end and tight end, replaced by Gavin Tareshawty and Cole Morell respectively. Back up quarter back Jake Kowal stepped into the general’s position as Santino Marucci moved into fullback.

The Cards stopped the Spartans cold on their first series with huge tackles by Kowal, Greg Karas, Morell and Tareshawty. On the Cardinals first offensive play Ethan Fletcher sprinted around the left edge for a 45-yard touchdown capped off by a Marucci point after touchdown.

The rest of the game was a defensive struggle with hard hitting and good tackling by both teams. The Cardinals had a Fletcher touchdown run called back on a block in the back on the Cardinals second series which ended on a fourth down when the Cardinals fumbled.

Later in the contest, a Marucci to Karas touchdown pass called back on an illegal motion. Both teams struggled to stay onsides giving up multiple offside penalties. The Cardinals ran the clock down to four seconds before the Spartans had one last play to score but failed to move the ball. The Cardinals finish the regular season perfect at 7-0 and enter post season as first seed and Division Champions.