W. Kenneth Owen

It may have been a loss but the Cardinals held undefeated Valor Christian to one of the Eagles’ narrowest margins of victory of the season.

Elizabeth High School football played host to Valor Christian Oct. 23 in Elizabeth and lost to the Eagles 21-14.

The Eagles first scored on a 7-yard run with just over 10 minutes left in the first quarter. Cardinal linebacker Eli McKinney, a sophomore, blocked the Valor point after touchdown to leave Valor’s lead at 6-0, where it remained to the end of the quarter.

At the 7:32 mark in the second quarter, Valor passed for their second touchdown. They also completed a successful 2-point conversion pass. The Eagles led 14-0 going into halftime.

In the third quarter, Cardinals speedster Brad Goldsberry punched in for six points from one yard out. Calvin Lockerby’s point after attempt was good, making the score 14-7. Later, the Eagles scored on a 46-yard pass and a successful PAT with 7:31 left in the third to pull further ahead 21-7.

With 2:48 left in the fourth quarter, the Cards quarterback Dalton Taylor passed to Sean Dorrance for a 71-yard touchdown. Lockerby added the PAT for the eventual final score of 21-14 Eagles.

Elizabeth had 11 first downs and 209 yards of total offense. Zach Butler rushed nine times for 32 yards. Goldsberry rushed 10 times for 23 yards, a touchdown and caught two passes for 39 yards. Matt Biery rushed seven times for 12 yards and caught three passes for 30 yards. Dorrance caught two passes for 81 yards and a touchdown. Ryna Calhoun caught two passes for 20 yards. Dalton Taylor passed 21 times and completed nine for 170 yards.

Butler, John Weber and Biery each had a fumble recovery. Goldsberry had a kick return for 46 yards and one punt return for 14 yards.

Junior defensive lineman Seth Ten Eyck lead the Cardinals on defense with three tackles and five assisted tackles. Goldsberry had four tackles and three assists. McKinney had three tackles and three assisted tackles. Chase Cline had one tackle and five assists.

Dorrance had two tackles and three assisted tackles. Taylor had five tackles. Weber had two tackles and two assisted tackles. T.J. Peck had one tackle and two assisted tackles. Tyler King had three assisted tackles.

No team has scored 14 points on Valor Christian all season. With the win, the Cardinals rested on a record of 6-2 prior to facing Englewood the following week. Valor advanced to 8-0.