**ARTICLE BY HUDSON HARKNESS**
The Cardinals opened the scoring with an Ayden Hewer 1-yard rush up the middle, and the PAT converted by Jace Heck. With 6:28 remaining in the 1st quarter, Wil Strickler looked to Zander Prince for the 52-yard pitch and catch score. At the end of the first, Big Rapids led 14-0.
Big Rapids opened the 2nd quarter with a 27-yard field goal from Jace Heck. With just three minutes left in the half, the Cardinals drove the ball inside the 10, where Strickler connected with Garrett Foster for the 8-yard touchdown. Big Rapids led 23-0 at half.
The third quarter opened just as the first quarter did, an Ayden Hewer goal line rush and score. The Cardinals went for two, and converted on the Jace Heck pass to Brody Sleeper. On the following kickoff, Joey Morrow took the kickoff to the house, to give the Hornets their only score of the game. Big Rapids responded with a 25-yard rushing touchdown from Stickler.
The following Central Montcalm drive, Isaac Johnson dropped back to pass, and it was intercepted by Zander Prince. Prince took it 35-yards to put six more points on the board. The 3rd quarter ended with the Cardinals leading 44-6. The only score of the 4th quarter happened a minute in, when Foster reached the end zone on a 3-yard rush to give the Cardinals a 51-6 win.
Big Rapids improves to 2-1 and will hit the road to face rival Reed City. Central Montcalm falls to 1-2, they will visit Chippewa Hills next week.
