ST. CLOUD - The Willmar football team had two goals going into its Central Lakes Conference game at St. Cloud Apollo: Run the ball more effectively, and eliminate a second half letdown.
Both jobs got done on Friday as the Cardinals throttled the Eagles 40-14 at Apollo High School.
The Cardinals, who came into the game averaging just 2.0 yards per carry, ran for 291 yards.
Levi Hauser carried 18 times for 119 yards, and Sam Kerfeld ran for 79 yards and scored two touchdowns.
Nate Ackerman carried 13 times and scored a TD.
“We ran ball extremely well,” said Willmar head coach Jon Konold. “It’s a lot easier to play offense when running ball like that.”
The Cardinals broke a three-game losing streak and take a 2-3 record into their Homecoming game against Moorhead on Friday.
Willmar’s coaching staff challenged its offense and got some competition going among the backs, Konold said.
“We told them, “Whoevern produces is going to play,’ ” Konold said. “They took that personally and they all played well. Hauser did a great job. It was fun for everybody.”
The Cardinals had been hanging with teams early in games, then going flat in the second half.
But quarterback Zach Radermacher hit Colten Carlson for a 39-yard touchdown pass late in the half, and Ackerman broke up an Apollo pass in the end zone as time expired to preserve the Cards’ 21-14 lead.
In the second half, the offense continued to roll while players like Carlson and Breck Erickson, who picked off a pass, made key defensive plays to help shut out the Eagles.
“It was fun to watch them, fun, fun to watch them fly around on defense,” Konold said. “The defensive line played really well up front.”
And the Cardinals finally put together a solid game from start to finish.
“We’ve been doing those kinds of things in spurts,” Konold said. “I think the kids are feeling more comfortable and hopefully getting their feet under them.”
Willmar 40, SC Apollo 14
Willmar (2-3) 14 7 13 6 - 40
SCA (1-4) 7 7 0 0 - 14
W – Noah Slagter 6 pass Zach Radermacher (Ryan Liimatta kick)
SCA – Ethan Novachinski 25 pass Joey Atkinson (23 kick)
W – Sam Kerfeld 19 run (Liimatta kick)
SCA – Atkinson 4 run (23 kick)
W – Colten Carlson 39 pass Radermacher (Liimatta kick)
W – Kerfeld 2 run (Liimatta kick)
W – Nate Ackerman 1 run (kick failed)
W – Sam Warne 4 run (kick failed)
Willmar
First downs: 22 … Rushing: 58-291 … Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 11-21-131-1 … Fumbles lost: None … Penalties: 9-95
Rushing: Colten Carlson 4-(-3), Sam Kerfeld 11-79, Radermacher 10-57, Sam Warne 2-12, Nate Ackerman 13-27, Levi Hauser 18-119 … Passing: Radermacher 11-21-131-1 ... Receiving: Noah Slagter 2-16, Carlson 3-66, Ackerman 1-29, Max Doering 5-30 … Punting: Radermacher 2-62 (31.0) … Interceptions: Breck Erickson 1 … Fumble recoveries: None … Tackles (solo-assist): Slagter 2-1, Tate Hovland 2-3, Carlson 2-0, Tyler Johnson 1-1, Kerfeld 2-0, Erickson 2-1, Ackerman 3-0, Austin Boller 4-0, Levi Akerson 1-0, Gunner Raths 1-0, Louis Russell 1-1, Brady Reigstad 1-1 … QB sacks: Akerson 1, Russell 1.5, Reigstad 0.5
St. Cloud Apollo
First downs: 4 … Rushing: 23-8 … Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 12-24-121-1 … Fumbles lost: None … Penalties: 7-50
Rushing: Joey Atkinson 7-(-11), Clayton Hoeper 8-12 … Passing: Atkinson 12-24-121-1 ... Receiving: Ethan Novachinski 5-55, Cole Johnson 4-49
