Cardinals defense triumphs over Yorktown

YORKTOWN — Shiner St. Paul opened the scoring with a 68-yard touchdown run by Austin Barton and opened the season with a win over the Yorktown  Wildcats as the Cardinals used mostly their running game to get the 26-8 victory.

Yorktown’s only answer was in the second quarter as Jayden Webb threw a 12-yard pass to Milam Eckhardt for a touchdown. Eckhardt would convert on the two-point conversion for the 8-7 lead.

In the third quarter, Barton found Colton Machart for a 24-yard touchdown pass, giving St. Paul the 13-8 lead. A 50-yard run by Conor Kresta along with a 39-yard run by T.J. Bell gave the Cardinals two more touchdown scores in the fourth, finishing out the game 26-8.

Bell led the team in carries, rushing 10 times for 91 yards and a score. Barton was right behind with six rushes for 73 yards and a score, including his 68-yard touchdown run. Kresta had three rushes for 72 yards and a score.

Passing, both Barton and Marco Ynclan had interceptions as the team combined for just 35 yards over the air.  The Cardinals also were called for seven penalties worth a total of 60 yards.

Defensively, Shiner St. Paul allowed only 23 passing yards while recovering two fumbles and forcing an interception. Yorktown also had 168 rushing yards on 50 carries.

Shiner St. Paul hosts homecoming this Friday as they take on Bryan St. Joseph.