Cardinal Football Falls to Montague in Rain-Soaked Conference Heartbreaker

The Nest, Inside Orchard View Atheletics
Justin Troyer
Presented by: Vandyk Mortgage

Montague, MI -- The Orchard View Cardinals came up just short Friday night, falling to the Montague Wildcats 19-16 in a rain-soaked West Michigan Conference battle.

The loss moves Orchard View to 2-2 overall and 1-2 in conference play.

Montague opened the scoring with a nine-yard touchdown run, but the Cardinals quickly answered when Ca’Mari Reese broke free for a 49-yard touchdown run. Orchard View converted the two-point attempt to take an 8-7 lead into the second quarter.

Reese was a difference-maker throughout the night, finishing with 13 carries for 115 yards, averaging 8.8 yards per carry.

In the second quarter, Kenyon McCauley connected with Jaden Ross for a 51-yard touchdown, extending the Cardinal lead to 16-7. McCauley finished 5-of-15 passing for 121 yards and a touchdown, while Ross recorded one catch for 51 yards and the score.

Montague answered with a 12-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 16-14 at halftime.

The Wildcats took the lead in the third quarter with a 25-yard field goal, then added a safety following a bad snap in the Cardinal end zone to make it 19-14.

Orchard View's defense continued to battle in the difficult conditions. McCauley led the Cardinals with six tackles, while Reese recorded the team's only takeaway with an interception.

Montague's defensive adjustments in the second half disrupted the Cardinal offense, and Orchard View was unable to regain the lead before the final whistle.

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