Cardinals Outlast Vikings In Hard Fought Game

Sun Prairie 18, Parker 17, Friday, September 30, 2011, at Monterey Stadium



Max Monson [89], Mitchell Bailey [30], and Matt Pakes [14] close on Cardinal QB Matt Curran in the first quarter

Matt Higginbotham [48] and an unidentified Viking tackle Sun Prairie RB Donte Starlin-Merriam in first half action.

The game was Janesville Youth Football Night.

Left: Mitchell Bailey got a piece of a Cardinal punt in the second quarter. Above: Josh Bernhardt on a tackle. The Vikings took a 14-0 halftime lead but Sun Prairie played a strong second half to edge out a 18-17 win which left the Cardinals at 5-2 and the Vikings at 5-2 with two games to play in conference.

Brad Money [46] recovered a Sun Prairie muffed punt in the first quarter to set up the Vikings first score

Adam Vesterfelt scored on a short run in the first quarter to give Parker a 6-0 lead

Matt Pakes [above left, 14] tackles Cardinal receiver Michael Marchese [2]. Above left: Pakes [5' 6, 150] takes on Sun Prairie pulling guard Mike Edwards [6' 2, 290]. Below left: Max Monson on a shoestring tackle. Below right: Mitchell Bailey [30] and Brad Money converge on Cardinal receiver Aaron Fischer.

Despite being a weekly target for opponents Adam Vesterfelt gained over 200 yards for the game. He is shown above on a 39 yard first quarter run.

Right: Decker Thompson gets off a pass with a Cardinal defender Shane Seiter applying pressure.

Thompson's pass resulted in a nine yard completion to receiver Vernon Franklin [80, above].

Above: Matt Higginbotham on a second quarter tackle.

Right: Brad Money's defensive play prevented a first half Cardinal TD.

Left: Sam Fischer [52] and Tyler Steinke [68] combine to stop a Sun Prairie runner.

Above: Mitchell Bailey [30] and Tyler Steinke [68] tackle Donte Starlin-Merriam in first half action.

Behind blocks by Vernon Franklin [80], TJ Steinke [67], tight end Jacob Welch [41], and Hunter Marshall [26], Adam Vesterfelt takes off on a 90 yard TD run [Above and below] at the 7:03 mark of the second quarter.

Decker Thompson using a block by Hunter Marshall scores on a 2-point X-Pt conversion giving Parker a 14-0 lead

Mitch Treinen [above, 5] is shown knocking away a potential TD pass.

Right: Matt Pakes [14] on a first half stop.

Receiver Vernon Jordan [80] has been a force as a receiver, runner, and return specialist.

Left: Mitchell Bailey [30].

Right: Bailey tackles Sun Prairie lineman Craig Evans [6' 3 , 305] to prevent a 2 point conversion by the Cardinals.

Bailey's tackle forced a fumble. The Cardinals used Evans as a running back in red zone situations.

Noah Seichter and Mitchell Bailey [30] stop Sun Prairie runner Donte Starlin-Merriam short of a 2 point conversion

Adam Vesterfelt

Cullin Simonson's FG made the score Parker 17-Sun Prairie 12 in the 3rd quarter

Parker 'O' line in the second half.

With time running out and behind 18-17 the Vikings did not quit. Tyler Brooks [above left, 4] is shown on a crucial stop late in the 4th quarter. Starting on their 1 yard line the Vikings had a series of big plays called back on penalties. Above right: Decker Thompson is shown on a scramble late in the game.