Airedales battle tough Cardinals’ team Friday
By Kevin Taylor
Alma Schools
Friday’s game between Alma and Farmington isn’t for a playoff berth.
But there will be a lot at stake when the Cardinals (2-2, 1-0) come to Airedale Stadium for the first time since 2020.
Alma (3-1, 1-0) defeated the Cardinals that season, 8-3, in the season finale.
Four years later, third-year coach J.R. Eldridge has helped build a strong program. And last week’s 43-40 comeback win over Harrison is living proof.
Down to its third-string quarterback, the Cardinals rallied late to stun the Goblins.
“Farmington, what J.R. has done there in three years is tremendous,” Bush said. “They’ve got a ton of kids out, and they’re playing well even though they’re on their third quarterback. J.R. takes the backup quarterback and beats a great Harrison team in the final couple of minutes.”
Farmington quarterback Ayden Lester threw four touchdown passes in the Cardinals’ win over the Goblins. The six-foot quarterback marks the third straight left-hander the Airedales will have opposed.
Lester has passed for 518 yards and eight touchdowns this season. His biggest target is senior playmaker Luke Elsik, a threat on the ground and through the air. He leads the team with 14 receptions for 246 yards and two scores.
Elsik has also rushed for 183 yards. Junior Russell Hodge leads the team with 253 yards rushing and three scores.
“It’s a huge challenge; they play hard, they play discipline, but I’m excited that we’ve got them here at our house,” Bush said. “I know we’ll have a packed house and it should be a great ballgame.”
Alma quarterback Jackson Daily leads the Airedales in a couple of offensive categories, including yards rushing (332) and passing (606). Daily has rushed for eight touchdowns and leads the team with 7.3 yards-per-carry average.
Senior Carlos Gonzalez ran for a season-high 87 yards and a touchdown in last week’s win over Clarksville. He’s averaging 6.3 yards per attempt and is second on the team with four touchdowns.
Sophomore Samuel Schlegel leads Alma with 21 receptions for 376 yards and two scores.
Defensively, Trey Bowen leads Alma with 25 tackles. But Byron Standridge and Ashton Chanhnouvong are right behind him with 22 and 21 tackles, respectively.
Alma has three defensive touchdowns this season - one each from Kaydin Minshull, Cash Farris, and Landon Morris.
Charlie Mobley leads Farmington with 49 tackles (12.3 per game), and the senior has one of the team’s five interceptions.