Cardinals Bid Goodbye to the Bye Week, Look Toward Conference Play

Matt Snow, Tower Staff
September 27, 2012
Filed under Sports

If you have been paying attention to Catholic University football this season, it is needless to say that the Cardinals have caught some tough breaks.

After a big win over McDaniel to begin the season, Galluadet forced several game changing turnovers to give CUA a heartbreaking first defeat. Despite a valiant effort from every member of the team, last week was no different as the Cardinals fell to Carnegie Mellon by a score of 35-17.

Despite being a run-heavy team, Carnegie Mellon seemed to turn every big play opportunity into production as they torched the Cardinals through the air racking up 333 yards passing. Carnegie Mellon completed 11 of 13 pass attempts averaging over 25 yards a pass.

Vinnie Cortese had a monster game this past weekend recording 1.5 sacks against Carnegie Mellon. Conor Stueckler has been a force leading the team in tackles with 30, and Mark D’Annibale has made some big plays for the Cardinals this season including two tackles for loss, a sack, and two fumble recoveries.

CUA led Carnegie Mellon in 3rd down conversion percentage, rushing yards and time of possession but the team could not get away from passing the ball as Greg Cordavari completed 27 of 55 pass attempts. The Cardinals’ “pass happy” offensive plan led to too many three-and-outs and the team received its second loss of the season.

“We are putting the past behind us and getting ready to bring it against one of our biggest rivals in Hampden-Sydney” stated Senior Alex King.

With a big game against Hampden-Sydney looming next Saturday, the Cards will find out what they are made of as ODAC conference competition begins. The winner of the ODAC conference wins an automatic bid into the playoffs despite any other blemish on their record. The Cardinals must produce wins against their conference opponents in order to clinch a playoff berth.

A huge bright spot in this less than stellar start to the season has been the big men up front on the Cardinal offensive line. John Serdakowski, Kenny Meyer, Ryan Hrynczyszyn, Mike O’Shea, Garrett Norris, Cam Kurtz, Mike Zolfo, and Dave Trancynger have all contributed to an offensive line that has given up no sacks this entire season.

Next Saturday, September 29th, come watch the Cardinals begin conference play against Hampden-Sydney at 1:00pm at the Dufour Center.