Taking on a state-ranked opponent turned out to be too tall of an order Friday for the Iola-Scandinavia football team.
Stevens Point Pacelli, ranked fifth in this week’s Associated Press small school state poll, handed the Thunderbirds a 13-0 defeat in the T-Birds’ Homecoming game.
Both of the Cardinals’ touchdowns capped long drives. Andy Rice scored from 14 yards out in the second quarter after the Cardinals drove 86 yards in 13 plays, while Jesse Raczek found the end zone from 9 yards out in the fourth quarter on a 12-play, 74-yard drive.
Meanwhile, the Pacelli defense held the T-Birds’ Devin Peterson to a season-low 50 yards in 15 carries.
“We played a pretty solid game, but a couple things went against us,” coach Scott Erickson said. “We just weren’t able to move the ball consistently. Our defense played pretty well. We just gave up a couple of big plays that were the difference in the game.”
The teams also played through a steady rain in the first half.
The Cardinals outgained the T-Birds 111-88 on the ground and 108-76 through the air.
I-S fell to 1-2 in the Central Wisconsin 8 Conference and 2-3 overall, while Pacelli improved to 3-0 in league play and 5-0 overall.
I-S will head to Manawa Friday for another CWC 8 matchup. The Wolves need to win their four remaining games to qualify for the playoffs, while the T-Birds need to win three of four.
“That’s another big rival for us,” Erickson said.