ELIZABETH – Joe Finken took the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and Elizabeth never stopped running in a 41-20 victory over Palmer Ridge on Friday night.

The Cardinals (3-0), ranked No. 2 in 3A by The Denver Post, rushed for 160 yards and four touchdowns in the first half while holding Palmer Ridge (2-1, No. 8) to 14 yards and no first downs.

“We just came out flat,” Bears senior defensive end/tight end Collin Babcock said. “It wasn’t pretty. We just stood there. We didn’t know what to do. It was just terrible.”

Palmer Ridge went into the game having scored 67 points and allowing just seven. But in the program’s first big test — this is the Bears’ first crack a full varsity schedule as the school has a senior class for the first time — the offense stalled every possession in the first half.

A high snap on the third Bears punt attempt and a fumble deep in their own territory resulted in two more Elizabeth touchdowns and a 34-0 halftime deficit.

“Our team hasn’t dealt with a lot of adversity yet, and tonight we were just not ready for it,” quarterback Hunter Warwick said. “Elizabeth got off to a great start and we didn’t respond well.”

The Bears defense did respond in the third quarter, holding Elizabeth scoreless and allowing about 50 yards of offense while intercepting a pair of passes. But they were unable to capitalize on offense, fumbling on third-and-goal from the 9.

Palmer Ridge finally got on the scoreboard less than 2 minutes into the fourth quarter after Babcock’s forced fumble and recovery. Winn Howard ran in from 16 yards after the Bears took over on the Elizabeth 30.

Warwick added a 1-yard TD run with 3:06 left in the game, and a 71-yard gallop in the closing minute.

“It was nice to put points on the board, but a loss is a loss,” Warwick said.

Palmer Ridge finished with 152 yards of offense, 139 of that rushing.

Elizabeth piled up 302 rushing yards. Brad Goldsberry had 12 carries for 101 yards and three touchdowns. Matt Biery added 17 carries for 104 yards and a score.

“It was pretty straight forward,” Babcock said of the Cardinals’ rushing attack. “We just couldn’t stop it.”

Photo by

Kevin Kreck