Cards Win 2011 Season Opener

Box Score Box Score

In their first appearance as a member of the NCAA, the William Jewell College football team opened up the season with a 33-6 win against the Sterling Warriors out of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference of the NAIA.

The William Jewell Cardinals' offense had a rough start to the game when sophomore quarterback Sean Shelton threw an interception on their first play from scrimmage. However, the Cardinal defense came up big, holding Sterling College to only two field goals the entire game, both of which came in the first quarter.

With a total of ten turnovers in the game from both sides, defense and a little bit of sloppy play were the stories of the game. The Cardinal defense was able to come up with five fumble recoveries, including two by safety Kurt Webster and one returned 44 yards for a defensive touchdown by freshman defensive back Thomas Swoboda late in the third quarter.

After a tough start to the game, the Cardinal offense got in a rhythm early in the second quarter. On third and long, inside Sterling's 20 yard line, Sean Shelton hit Harrison Blue in the corner of the end zone to end the longest scoring drive of the night with a touchdown to put Jewell up 14 to 6.

Halfway through the third quarter, Jewell's defense struck again with their fourth fumble recovery of the night which led to a 30 yard run by freshman running back Glen Whitney, who finished the drive with a one yard touchdown run to make the score 21-6.

In the fourth quarter, with the game all but decided, senior running back Chris Stuart broke through Sterling's defense with a 40 yard run, which he followed up with a one yard touchdown run to seal Jewell's first victory as a NCAA member.

The Cardinals ended the game with a total of 241 offensive yards to Sterling's 227 total yards. Jewell's biggest offensive performers where running backs Glen Whitney and Chris Stuart who had 70 and 67 rushing yards respectively. Quarterback Sean Shelton went 8 for 18 with 89 yards passing, which were spread out between eight Jewell receivers.

William Jewell's defensive leaders were senior linebacker Nelson Windebank with seven solo tackles and 3 assisted tackles. Senior defensive back Kurt Webster led the team with two fumble recoveries.

William Jewell, 1-0, will play the Colorado School of Mines next Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at Greene Stadium in Liberty, MO. –Story by Kurt Hixson

Print Friendly Version