Remember in preseason magazine and preview blog we said the Alma Cardinals possessed electric playmakers on offense? Well, it was on full display in Week 0 as Alma hosted Superior and came away with a 74-6 win at home.
After the Wildcats chewed up some clock on their first possession, the Cardinals were able to strike first on offense and it didn't take long. Two plays into their first drive, senior quarterback Jakin Neal found sophomore Tucker Biskup on a 59-yard pass with 6:21 to go in the first quarter and they were up 8-0. After another defensive stand, Alma scored again before the end of the first quarter as senior River Eddy ran in from six yards and they now led 16-0 heading into the second quarter.
In the second period, Alma really opened up the offense as Biskup had a rushing touchdown from 60 yards with 8:42 to go in the half on an option play where he faked the pitch and cut upfield, and left the Superior defenders in the dust. Then, Neal and Biskup connected on a 30-yard touchdown pass that resembled more a schoolyard football play drawn in the dirt, as Neal evaded four tacklers and ran side-to-side before finding Biskup for the score.
After those two scores, Alma was up 28-0.
Alma wasn't done as senior Alek Molzahn was able to score on the ground from 65 yards away, pushing their lead to 36-0 with 1:39 to go before halftime.
Superior was able to score late in the first half as Lincoln Sander, a sophomore was able to find #1 Colton Butler on a 29-yard pass with 17 seconds to go before halftime making it 36-6.
17 seconds left on the clock though, was 17 too many for Alma as on their next offensive possession, they scored on a 33-yard screen pass from Neal to Molzahn and pushed their lead to 42-6 at halftime.
Out of the half, Alma wasted no time again as Jakin Neal found his brother Isaiah Neal on a four-yard pass in the endzone to make the lead even more prominent at 50-6 with 7:16 to go in the third period.
Alma's defense remained strong throughout the second half and the scoring did not subside. River Eddy, a senior, was able to score from a few yards out with 3:38 to go in the third quarter, and the conversion was good again making it 58-6.
Then in the fourth quarter, freshman Miles Ford scored twice for Alma. He ran in from eight yards out to make it 58-6 with 11:51 to go in the game, and then from 34 yards away with 4:40 remaining to push that lead up to 74-6 and close out the game.
For the Cardinals, Jakin Neal had 204 yards passing and three touchdowns through the air on 8-8 passing. Tucker Biskup had two touchdown grabs and 89 yards for the Cardinals.
Alek Molzahn had a pair of interceptions and Isaiah Neal added one too.
Alma is now 1-0 on the season and will face Axtell next Friday on the road.
Superior falls to 0-1 and will play Lawerence-Nelson next week.