By Christopher Shaban
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
CLAREMONT — The Stevens Cardinals suddenly find themselves in the playoff hunt after grabbing a 55-12 win over Kingswood on Friday for their fourth straight win.
Stevens wasted no time getting on the scoreboard with a ground game that went seven plays for 65 yards in their first series, capped off with a 16-yard run by Aiden White.
Kingswood petitioned down into Division 3 this season to try and rebuild their football program that has only two seniors on this year’s team. “They are going to be something once they get back on track. They have such a young team, but they are doing it right, there is no quit in them,” said Stevens Head Coach Josh Duford. The problem for Kingswood was that the Cardinals are back on track and playing inspired football after starting the season 0-2.
Stevens increased their lead as the fleet footed Jai-Lique Ribeiro raced down the sidelines untouched on the very next Cardinal possession for a 75-yard score. Kingswood coughed the ball up on their next play compliments of a vicious hit by Kevin Brand that was recovered by Tyler Christian.
Stevens bullied their way into the endzone with a bomb from Christian to Kaden Thyne for 39 yards increasing the lead to 22-0 midway into the first quarter. “We really believe in ourselves, we are a family and will fight for each other until the last down,” said Thyne.
Knights junior quarterback Aiden Brierley is a player and took some big hits from the Cardinal defense including a sack from Carson Vielguth forcing a Kingswood punt that had the Cardinals eyeing more points. A quarterback keeper by Christian nearly mowed down a referee during his 18-yard rumble setting the stage for AJ Rozzell. Rozzell followed his big line outside then raced 44 yards for the Cardinals fourth touchdown in the opening quarter. “We needed this win, we just kept the pedal to the metal for as long as we needed to,” said Christian.
After the Cardinals coughed up the ball to start the second quarter, Thyne would get it right back for Stevens with a beautiful interception that ended with White blasting down the sidelines for a 31-yard touchdown score. “We are a hungry team, but we will always have respect for our opponent” said Duford as he began getting the younger players into the game early and often while giving some a chance they have been hoping for. Linebacker Colby Shepard is a standout on the defensive side of the ball and when his number was called to run a two-point conversion, he was nothing but smiles when he cracked the goal line but there would be more.
Shepard’s number was called at the four-yard line on the cardinals next drive and when he plowed into the end zone, he was mobbed by his teammates. “I am just so thankful for the line who blocked for me, they have been fantastic this season, they are just incredible,” said Shepard as he scored his first high school touchdown.
High school athletics teaches so many things about life and there are times when it shows the character and type of person they are. Just before the half, the Cardinals swarmed the Knights Elliot James in the backfield as Rozzell and Lucas Smith tried to wrestle him to the ground. Referee Mike LaFond got caught in the path and he couldn’t back up quick enough and ended up on the ground with the players. More concerned about the referee than their own teammates, Kingswood’s Craig Doherty and Shepard raced over to LaFond to check on him and helped him to his feet making sure he was ok. “I’ll never hear the end of this,’’ said LaFont with a huge grin. “Those players are great and were raised right,’’ he added.
Stevens sophomore Zach Richardson would add two touchdowns for Stevens in the second half while the visitors would add two of their own with freshman Serafin Agramonte having a solid day including the final score of the night as the heavy fog settled in.
“We had intensity from the start, we played hard and physical and our character never changed one bit. I take a lot of pride in our attitude and respect for our opponents,” said Duford.
Stevens improves to 4-3 with the win and places them in a tie for the final playoff spot in Division 3 with Fall Mountain and Inter-Lakes Moultonborough.
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