by Brian Turrel
Bishop Ward High School lost 44-14 to the visiting Pembroke Hill Raiders on Friday evening at the Cyclones’ homecoming football game.
Ward scored on its opening drive, stringing together productive plays from senior running back Jared Templin to advance down the field, and then capping off the drive with a 23-yard touchdown pass from Christian Stein to Christopher Galloway.
Pembroke Hill struck back quickly and then kept up the pressure through the second and third quarters, owning a 20-6 halftime lead and moving ahead 30-6 in the third quarter. Ward continued to move the ball on runs by Templin, but couldn’t keep drives going due to penalties and blocking miscues.
Ward’s defense made an admirable stand in the third quarter. After the Cyclones surrendered a fumble on their own 6-yard line, the defense held the Raiders to a field goal after only 1 yard of progress on three plays.
Ward capped off the scoring in the fourth quarter on a 7-yard run by Templin, and a 2-point point conversion pass from Stein to Sam Alexander. The Cyclones’ two touchdowns were the most since a September 2017 game against Turner.
The loss drops Bishop Ward to 0-3 for the season. The Cyclones will play host to the Jefferson West Tigers of Meriden, Kansas, at 7 p.m. next Friday.