Hoover Cardinals 42, Francis Parker Lancers 0

The Hoover Cardinals, now 2-0, ran all over the Francis Parker Lancers.

The Cardinals, led by Senior team captain and quarterback Lewis Butler, scored 42 points in route to a shutout win.

Junior, Demontauz Gray led the pack with 170 yards on 9 carries. He recorded 3 touchdowns on the night as well, taking his touchdown total up to eight over the first two games of the season. The Cardinals stuck to their multi-option and wildcat formations, and did so with great success. Butler, who played running back last year was moved to quarterback this year. A great move by coach Jerry Ralph. With this move, the Cardinals were able to run multiple counter options as well as fake handoff QB keepers. Gray and Butler led the running attack for most of the game, before being taken out early in the second half as the game went to a running clock.

The Lancers struggled early and never really found a groove until late in the third quarter, after most of the Cardinals first offense and defense were off the field. They found their little bit of late success in the air and almost scored as the game clock ran out in the fourth quarter, but came up about 10 yards shy of the goal line.

Preview: The Francis Parker Lancers head to Hoover High School to play the run-heavy Hoover Cardinals in a non-conference matchup.

The Lancers had a rough outing in week one, falling 42-6 to the Nuview Bridge Nights. Lancers’ sophomore quarterback Ben Krongard’s varsity debut left much to be desired – throwing 2 for 9, with one interception and no touchdowns. He did rush for the team’s only touchdown, but it was far too little in comparison to his opposing counterpart – as the Bridge Nights’ QB, Kevin Arroyo, slung 14 for 20 on 265 yards and 4 TDs, while also rushing for 40 yards and 2 TDs, accounting for over 300 yards of total offense and all of his teams TDs.

Big upside for the Lancers this week is they won’t have to worry about getting smoked by the passing game again, but they will still have a hard time containing Demontauz Gray and the Cardinals. The Cardinals only had 4 total passing attempts, with only one completion for 13 yards. The Cardinals offense runs out of a wildcat formation, so the QB rarely even touches the ball. Instead, the center snaps to a very speedy Gray, who’s immediately on the run. Gray ran all over his week 1 opponent, the Monte Vista Monarch – tallying 12 carries for 188 yards and all 5 of his team’s touchdowns.

The key for the Lancers this week, and any team facing the Cardinals this season, is to stop the run. If they can do that, while getting some sort of spark on offense, they might have a chance.

Be sure to tune in to KUSI TV at 10:30 p.m. Friday night for highlights of this game and all others, on The Prep Pigskin Report.