Cardinal, BGM substate game set for Wednesday

First-year head coach Darren Hill has done what no coach has ever done before ? take Cardinal into the postseason.

Now, Hill will be looking to stick around for a while and lead the Comets to their first-ever postseason victory. To do so, his District 5 third-place team will have to avenge a pevious loss to 10th-ranked BGM in Wednesday?s sub-state round in Brooklyn. On Sept. 25, the Bears handed Hill the wrong kind of new experience ? his first loss on the Cardinal sideline.

After beginning the year on a 4-0 tear, BGM?s 40-7 victory vs. the Comets sent Cardinal on a downward spiral and straight into four straight losses. Last week, Cardinal snapped that losing streak with a 7-0 win at home against Highland to set up Wednesday?s showdown.

In the Sept. 25 game, Cardinal received a heavy dose of Bear running back Mike Long ? much like just about every BGM opponent as this season. Long has already ran for 1,344 yards on the season ? more than the entire Comet team combined ? and is the main weapon in a high powered offense averaging more than 36 points per game in its eight wins.

To counter, the Comets figure to use a ball control offense that won them last week?s game against Highland. The Cardinal defense remained stout, and after getting seven first quarter points from the offense, Hill was content to eat clock and play keep away. In the ball control offense, running back Jake Scherer and quarterback Brandon Warren combined for 212 yards on the ground while the Comets attempted just one pass the entire game.

However, when needed, Warren has shown the ability to pick up yards through the air with 471 yards on the season primarily to wide receiver Tanner Chance. BGM quarterback Chase Kilmer has hooked up with receiver Denzel VanSant for a whopping 529 yards and six touchdowns already in 2009.

Still, Long and his yards per carry average that is approaching seven, figures to be the main key in slowing down BGM when they have possession. Big Cardinal linebacker Austin O?Brien racked up a district-leading 120 tackles this season and fans should expect more than a few collisions between the two.

Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. in Brooklyn.