Cardinal, Danville up for another battle

Cardinal dropped a 10-7 game at home against Danville to open the 2010 season, and it may have just set the table for the rest of the year.

The Comets went on to lose four games by one score or less en route to an 0-8 season. Cardinal will now make the trip to Danville Friday night and hope to put the right foot forward.

?Turnovers were a huge factor last year, and I think they will again Friday night. Hang on to the ball and we improve our chances greatly,? said Adam Hadenfeldt, who will be making his coaching debut in red and white. ?But instead of worrying about wins and losses, we need to go out and have a good showing for ourselves. Do your job every single play and good things will happen.?

Those assignments begin in the trenches, where Cardinal will have to control the line of scrimmage and lean on the running game if it can. The Comets were able to outgain the Bears 213-135 last year and hope to move the ball again.

?It comes down to the play up front. Line play is going to be huge,? Hadenfeldt said. ?They?ll have big guys who can move people, but if we can get off the ball, we?ll be able to prevent them from getting where they want to go.?

Tanner Chance figures to take over the reigns at quarterback for Cardinal while Drew Ostrander will get the bulk of the carries out of the backfield. Danville quarterback Collin Bartsch returns as the starter, and, when he?s not handing the ball off to tailback Chris Barton, may be looking to the outside and receiver CJ Willimas.

All of those offensive weapons for the Bears were starters last fall.

The Comets haven?t won a game since a 7-0 win over Highland to clinch a postseason berth Oct. 23, 2009. Friday presents a chance to break a nine-game losing streak, and more importantly, start 2011 with a bang.

?Coming off last season, it?s been a long time since these guys have celebrated a victory,? said Hadenfeldt. ?Friday night is the first opportunity to do that.?

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Danville.