Cromwell Football Finishes Regular Season With A Win

Oct 20

Kerry Rodd-NSO

Tuesday night was the last regular season game of the year for the Cromwell Cards football team. Every coach is hoping that this is the time of year their team is peaking as playoffs approach this weekend. It appears as if that is exactly what is happening with Cromwell. After spanking Floodwood last week, the Cards dismantled Hill City 36-0 to improve to 7-1 overall.

“We are playing our best ball of the season on defense right now,” said Cards coach Jeff Gronner. “But I still feel that we can get a lot better yet in all phases of the game.”

Jordan Smith opened the scoring for the Cards in the first quarter with a six-yard touchdown run and Jordan Suhonen tacked on the conversion run making it 8-0 for Cromwell. Before the first quarter ended, it was John Schliauter intercepting a pass and taking it 37 yards for a score and again Suhonen added the conversion run for a 16-0 lead.

“I was very happy with how the game went,” mentioned Gronner. “It was very wet and muddy and we had zero turnovers.”

In the second quarter, Schliauter added another touchdown, but this time on a five-yard scoring jaunt.
However,
the extra point kick failed as the Cards forged to a 22-0 lead. Before halftime, the Cards added another touchdown when Smith caught a Suhonen pass and took it 78 yards for a score to make it 28-0. Suhonen found Shawn Anderson in the end zone for the two-point conversion and the Cards held a 30-0 halftime lead.

“Our defensive line of Nolan Wester, Cole Johnson, Greg Purcell and Tyler Sulkowski has really stepped up their game the last couple of games,” commented Gronner. “That group is controlling the line of scrimmage which makes it very easy for our linebackers to make plays.”

Cromwell ended the scoring in the third quarter when Michael Hedin slashed into the end zone on a 15-yard run making the final 36-0.

The game was an addition to the schedule for the Cards after an earlier season forfeit over LaPorte. This left the Cards with just six games on their schedule for the regular season.

“It wasn’t extremely important to get the game in,” mentioned Gronner. “However, to play a regular season with just six games is not fair to the kids who put in so much to the season, so it was nice to play another game.”

Wes Vork can be reached at wes@northlandsportsonline.com