10/14/2024
Cavaliers Conquer Knights 40-18
By Tim Tarter
It was one more game for a group of boys that have won a lot of games in JFL over the past 4 years. One more time to put on the pads and play together. The eighth grade Cavaliers had that opportunity on Sunday and they didn’t disappoint as they throttled a good North Greene squad 40-18 at Cavalier Field.
Carlinville’s defense got the first stop of the game as the Knights received the opening kickoff and picked up 19 yards on their first play from scrimmage. But the Cavaliers buckled down forcing North Greene to turn it over downs.
Ryan Cervi did the bulk of the work on offense early taking advantage of excellent blocking from his offensive line to get some big runs from the fullback spot in the “Nashville” offensive scheme. Cervi scored two early touchdowns to put Carlinville in front 14-0.
The first score came on a 6-yard run with 5:25 left in the first quarter to make it 6-0. The second TD came on an 11-yard run just two minutes and 17 seconds later with lineman Dean Fenstermaker getting the carry and scoring on the two-point conversion run to extend the lead to 14-0.
The Knights battled back scoring with 7:45 left in the second quarter on a 14-yard pass play from Ryder Kirchner to Nathanael Coates. The conversion run failed, but North Greene had cut the lead to 14-6.
The Cavaliers would answer. In a big way. Carlinville scored twice in a span of just 13 seconds late in the second quarter to take control. Donte` Hernandez did what he does best taking the handoff and scoring on a 24-yard touchdown run. Quarterback Colby Visuer connected with Drew Konneker for the conversion to make it 22-6 with 2:32 left.
On the first play from scrimmage following the kickoff, the Knights turned it over as Jeremiah Knowles came up with a fumble recovery. Viseur then connected with Hagan Eads on an 18-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 28-6 with 2:19 left in the first half.
The scoring was not done, however. On the ensuing drive, North Greene drove right down the field scoring on a 2-yard run by Liam Lemons with 4.1 seconds left in the half to make it 28-12.
Carlinville would go on to put the game away in the third quarter as they received the second half kickoff. It didn’t take long as Hernandez got his second touchdown on a 36-yard run to give the Cavaliers a 34-12 lead with 8:07 left.
The Knights would get a 42-yard touchdown run from Russell Staats with 8:42 left in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 34-18. Carlinville finished off the scoring on the ensuing possession as Viseur and Ayden Davis put on a passing clinic. Three straight completions including an 11-yard touchdown pass gave the Cavaliers a 40-18 lead with 7:18 left.
The Carlinville defense was solid against a North Greene team that finished 6-3 this season. The Knights were 6-1 in league play and finished second in the heavyweight division.
The Cavaliers defensive effort had contributions from just about everyone today. Eades, Hernandez, Davis, Cervi, Knowles, Fenstermaker, Keaton Saffell, Klayton Chingman, Charlie Lake, Avery Suits, Madden Craig, Wesley Smith and J.C. Wilbourn were all impact players today on defense.
Offensively, Viseur showed off both his running and passing skills today. A stiff wind early in the game limited pass attempts, but as the wind died down, the Cavaliers went to air more often. Wide receivers Davis, Eades, Chingman, Smith, and Drew Konneker have provided Viseur with plenty of targets all season. Today, it was Davis and Eades that were the primary targets.
Viseur, Hernandez and Cervi fueled a potent ground game with Lake, Fenstermaker, Wilbourn, Wes Hammann, Tyler Boente and Brody McFarland opening up plenty of holes.
McFarland also did an outstanding job on special teams as he twice came up with the ball when the Knight’s attempted onside kicks.
It was a team effort all season long for the 23 players and 6 coaches that make up this team. They have become family over the past four years and like all families, they have their disagreements from time to time. But make no mistake, they believe in each other, and they have each other’s backs when they take the field.
It's been a fun group to follow and watch the past four years of JFL. While today may be the end of one era, it’s just the beginning of another! The best is yet to come for the Class of 2029! This group of boys have a lot of talent and a special bond. If they can stay together at the next level, there is nothing that they cannot accomplish. I’m looking forward to the next four years!
