It's a long way from New York to East Texas.
The Monroe (New York) Mustangs made the trip and Saturday night the No. 12 Cardinals sent them home with a 37-10 lesson in SWJCFC football.
The win improves the Cardinals to 2-0 on the season.
Although the score was lopsided, the Cardinals didn't play their best football, particularly in the second half.
"We've got to start eliminating some of the negatives," Coach Sherard Poteete said. "Coming up, we've got TJC this next week. If we're going to be undisciplined, then we have no chance."
The Mustangs scored on their first possession with Jayden Young throwing a 33-yard touchdown to Evan Harrington, but that would be the last time Monroe got within sight of the end zone. The Cardinal defense went to work and throttled the Mustangs, holding them to under 200 yards of offense for the game, including just 18 yards rushing.
After Monroe's quick score, quarterback Kaden Brown answered with a 24-yard strike to Germonie Davis. Brown added a 33-yard touchdown to Ja'Mikael Davis early in the second quarter to put TVCC in control.
The Cardinals then turned to the ground game. Jamary Williams powered in from six yards out, and Rayshaun King added a 3-yard touchdown run just before halftime to push the lead to 28-7.
The second half belonged to the kickers. Reed Malphurs drilled a 45-yard field goal in the third quarter and later hit from 50 yards in the fourth. Freshman Cash Hernandez added a 29-yarder to cap the scoring at 37-10.
The Cardinals will open SWJCFC next Saturday at home against Tyler Junior College. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
SCORING SUMMARY
- MON - 1Q, 10:06 - Jayden Young 33-yard pass to Evan Harrington. Joseph Wright kick good. -- 7-0
- TVCC - 1Q, 8:30 - Kaden Brown 24-yard pass to Germonie Davis. Reed Malphurs kick good. -- 7-7
- TVCC - 2Q, 13:52 - Kaden Brown 33-yard pass to Ja'Mikael Davis. Reed Malphurs kick good. -- 14-7
- TVCC - 2Q, 7:31 - Jamary Williams 6-yard run. Reed Malphurs kick good. -- 21-7
- TVCC - 2Q, 1:20 - Rayshaun King 3-yard run. Reed Malphurs kick good. -- 28-7
- TVCC - 3Q, 8:28 - Reed Malphurs 45-yard field goal. -- 31-7
- MON - 3Q, 5:19 - Joseph Wright 31-yard field goal. 31-10
- TVCC - 4Q, 14:48 - Reed Malphurs 50-yard field goal. -- 34-10
- TVCC - 4Q, 5:27 - Cash Hernandez 29-yard field goal. -- 37-10
(A special thank you to Michael Hannigan of Hannigan Media for use of the game report)
