Football

The Lingleville Cardinals are only a game into their season but they are already showing an improvement that head coach Ken Davis hopes to build on all season.

That first game was against the tough Lometa.

“Last year, they 45’d us at halftime,” said Davis. “This year, we were 22-14 at half.”

An injury which seemed pretty serious in the second half wavered the Cardinals confidence, but they rebounded quickly. The game ended 74-40 in Lometa’s favor, but Davis said his boys kept fighting.

“We were 1-9 and got 45’d eight times last year,” Davis admitted. Lometa was one of the teams that set them so their battle already shows improvement.

Davis said the 1A six-man team has more than 20 players this year, leaving room for a JV team that is mostly freshman players.

The varsity squad isn’t void of experience with several upperclassmen including five seniors who Davis said are quick to respond to the team’s needs and adapt on the field.

Although the Cards aren’t big, Davis said his boys excel in their speed and ability to catch the football.

“We make our opponents earn any scores,” he added.

The Cards are facing the same opponents last year so they know the challenges they face.

“If we continue to improve in non-district games, I feel like we’ll be prepared once district rolls around,” said Davis.

As in last year, Davis will be handling offense while athletic director Steven Bailey watches over the defensive end of the game. Davis said he and Bailey work well together, often coming to the same ideas at the same time and supporting each other’s programs. (Davis assists Bailey once basketball season comes around.)

“We’re still trying to make our football tradition,” Davis said of the relatively young Lingleville football program. This year promises more experience and fight as the Cards find their footing.