Columbus Ground Game Too Much For NGM

Friday, September 6. NGM traveled to Columbus for game #3 of the young 2019 season. It was another crossover game with another good Capitol North team.
NGM won the toss. Thereafter the night belonged to the Cardinals. NGM opened with an unsuccessful onside kick, a harbinger of things to come. Columbus took full advantage of good field position and immediately marched to an easy score. They would score on their next two possessions before NGM responded when senior wide receiver Josh Wieser hauled in a perfect pass from junior quarterback Darris Schuett for a 16-yard touchdown. The first quarter closed with the Cardinals up 19-7. Limited scoring in the second brought us to halftime with the score 25-10.
NGM opened the second half hitting on all 8 cylinders as they marched to a score on a strike from Schuett to junior slot receiver Mason Martinson and a 19-yard touchdown. And just like that it was a one score game at 25-17 with all the momentum in favor of NGM! Enter the Cotter-Brunell show as this Cardinal tandem scored the next three touchdowns. Ball game. Final score 46-17, Redbirds.
This duo of quarterback William Cotter and running back Caden Brunell would rack up 315 yards between them by the time the night fell silent. Columbus rushed the ball 60 times for 401 yards - a style that the venerable Mr. Hayes from another Columbus in another state and another era would have approved of. NGM won a Pyrrhic victory in the air tallying 211 yards to 51 for the Cards.
Next up is Lodi as NGM gets some much needed home cookin’. The Blue Devils, yet another team from the Capitol North, bring their own version of a run-heavy offense and are undefeated. Look for NGM to shape its run defense and sharpen its offensive sword. (Inside information tells me this will be the focus of practice this week). Game time is 7:00 p.m., in New Glarus. See you at the game!