Cardinals Rain on Sidwell Friends homecoming, 48-0

Saturday was another miserable weather day for a homecoming football game and Ireton has become a miserable guest for the event with an overwhelming 48-0 win over the Quakers of Sidwell Friends at Woodrow Wilson High School. The Quakers, shorthanded with key injuries to their starting quarterback and a starting linebacker, were unable to mount any offense during the contest and had little more success stopping the Cardinals offense than they did with stopping the torrental downpours. It marked the 5 consecutive week of homecomings, with Ireton winning 4, including their own.

“We needed to get win number six to stay in the chase for a state playoff berth.” remarked head coach Tony Verducci after the game. “I was happy to be able to get all the players in the game for some substantial playing opportunities, they work hard in practice and deserved a chance to play today.”

The Cardinals wasted little time building a 14-0 lead at the quarter break and a 28-0 advantage by halftime on runs by Doug Vines for 34 yards, Tommy Kestermann on a one-yard run, then two more Vines’ scampers of 31 and 19 yards. Moses Webb got into the act at the start of the third quarter as the speedy sophomore bolted 75 yards on the Ireton opening drive to push the lead to 35. Sophomore quarterback Andrew Bladen scored the Cardinals’ sixth rushing touchdown in the 4th and junior Ricky Baier bulldozed up the middle 12 yards in the final stanza to round out the scoring for Bishop Ireton. The Cardinals took a knee on the PAT to end the scoring at 48.

The issue before the Alexandria school now is the division I independent school playoff picture. Potomac School in McLean continues to lead the polls with an undefeated record, second-ranked Collegiate School defeated #6 Fork Union while #3 St Stephens fell to Landon. Liberty Christian will likely move up to number 3 opening the final spot for the Cardinals to slide into 4th. “It’s a playoff game as well as a senior day game,” explained Verducci. “The players know what’s before us. Win number 7 against an extremely tough Friendship Edison Collegiate Academy would really put us in the driver’s seat. But a loss…”

Bishop Ireton’s final home game is a senior day affair for 19 Cardinals. Passport Mini of Alexandria, a partner in the Passport Automotive Group is the gameday sponsor of the home finale. Every driver who test drives a Passport Mini Cooper at the football game will earn Bishop Ireton a $50 donation to financial aid programs, courtesy of the Passport Mini of Alexandria. Test drives began at 12:30, kickoff is slated for 2pm at Fannon Field.