By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
ROSENDALE - North Andrew scored touchdowns on each of their first seven drives, held Stanberry to three punts and turned the Bulldogs over twice in the first half en route to a 54-6 victory in Rosendale Friday.
The Cardinals (6-0) avenged a 55-12 loss at Stanberry from last year and led 16-0 at the end of the first and 40-0 by halftime.
"I thought it was a good all around game from everyone on the field," North Andrew sophomore quarterback Braxon Linville said. "We dominated on the line, leading the way for me, (Hayden) Ecker, (Andrew) Goff to just succeed and keep scoring and keep going."
Senior Hayden Ecker got things started quickly for North Andrew, as he scored on a 41-yard touchdown run on the Cardinals' third play from scrimmage. The successful two-point conversion put North Andrew ahead 8-0 with 8:46 left in the first.
Linville joined in on the fun later in the first, scoring on a 63-yard touchdown run to help give his team a 16-0 advantage.
Linville finished with 113 yards rushing on 13 carries and two rushing scores.
Stanberry (3-3) had no answer defensively, as Ecker and Linville each had additional rushing scores in the first half. Linville also had a 35-yard touchdown throw to Dawson Eychaner all before halftime to give the Cardinals a 40-0 cushion at the break.
North Andrew got the ball to start the second half, and scored in just five plays. Linville once again found Eychaner for a 35-yard touchdown strike.
Eychaner, who missed the first four weeks, has now had five touchdown catches in the last two games combined.
"That was my main target last year," Linville said of Eychaner. "So, it's good to have that chemistry back. He's my favorite receiver to throw it to. It's just really nice to have him back."
Ecker added another 41-yard rushing at the tail end of the third quarter to put North Andrew up 54-0 entering the fourth before the backups took the field for both teams.
Stanberry got on the board with 7:09 remaining when junior Brayden Hahn scored on a nine-yard touchdown run.
Hahn finished with six carries for 32 yards. Tucker Scheiber had 43 yards rushing for the Bulldogs on eight carries. Stanberry quarterback Colby McQuinn was 5-of-9 through the air for 54 yards. He also had an interception and was sacked four times.
North Andrew goes on the road next week to face Albany (6-0). The Warriors shut out St. Joseph Christian 64-0 Friday. No doubt a thrilling matchup between a pair of unbeaten heavyweights.
"We just keep doing what we do," Linville said. "We run the ball, ball security. Once we get ahead, pass what we can and just do what we do. Run it down their throat."
Stanberry is off next week and will be home to East Atchison on October 14.
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