Cardinal Freshmen make Nordhoff earn their victory

The Santa Paula Freshman football team took on the undefeated Nordhoff Frosh last Thursday and gave them a run for their money, although the Cards lost, 33-14. The highlight of the game for the Cardinals was an 80-yard-run by Van Coburn for a TD in the second quarter.The Rangers learned that they weren’t going to have an easy time of it early in the game. On their first down Santa Paula’s Justen Ibarra tackled the Nordhoff runner for a loss of three yards. The Rangers only managed one yard on their next carry and ended up punting the ball. Jon Duran returned the kick back to the Nordhoff 39, and then carried the ball on the Cardinal first play. Santa Paula couldn’t move the ball and Nordhoff brought the punt back to their own 32-yard-line.The Rangers scored on their next possession with a TD from the Santa Paula 20-yard-line. Santa Paula had possession of the ball near the end of the first quarter, but had to punt on the fourth down.The Rangers scored again and got the extra point after ten plays at the top of the next quarter. They were slowed down by Cardinal defensive players Richard Espinosa, Jon Duran and Colby Mosby. It was on the kickoff return that Santa Paula’s Coburn ran past Nordhoff defenders for a TD. The Cards’ kick was good for the extra point. Nordhoff got another TD and extra point on their next possession.