Despite scoring first, and staying within striking distance of Naselle all night, the Winlock football team came up just short in a 38-24 defeat to its rival Comets Thursday night at home.
The Cardinals struck first in the opening frame, after halting the Comets on their first drive and driving it all the way back down the field, capped by a Payton Sickles quarterback keeper for a score from five yards out.
After that, Naselle’s defense tightened up, forcing several turnovers and limiting the Cards to just two scores for the rest of the night, and going on a 38-8 run before the Cardinals scored late in the fourth.
Sickles was the catalyst of the offense, throwing for 69 yards and a touchdown with another on the ground. James Cusson added 107 rushing yards, and Kaiden Perkins had a fourth quarter score and 61 yards on the ground. Chase Scofield caught Sickles’ lone touchdown pass in the third quarter, and had 49 receiving yards.
The Cardinals will hope to bounce back against Sound Christian next week on the road.