March 28, 2024

Cardinals take on Polar Bears in an early battle of unbeatens

Getting their first real test of the young football season Friday will be two 2-0 teams — Newton High’s Cardinals and the Des Moines North High Polar Bears. Each have a big win over Waterloo East.

The Cardinals rolled over Ottumwa in the season opener. The Polar Bears are coming off a 3-0 win over Sioux City West last week.

“North is going to be the best team we’ve played this season, and probably, we’re the best team they will have played so far,” Newton head coach Ed Ergenbright said. “I remember coaching against Des Moines North teams in the 1980s and 1990s. This is the best North team I’ve seen. I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen on tape.”

Week No. 3 of Class 4A football for Newton kicks off at 7:30 p.m. against host Des Moines North at North Grubb Stadium. A freshman game is slated for 4:45 p.m.

“North executes well on offense, running the option. They have the right combination of kids this season,” Ergenbright said. “They give you a lot of things to think about on offense. Defensively, they have athletic kids including huge defensive lineman and two active linebackers.”

Under head coach Sean Quinlan, who is in his third year at North, the Polar Bears snapped a 30-game losing streak last year. North defeated Des Moines Roosevelt on Oct. 9, 2015, to go 1-8. The Polar Bears were 2-34 over the past four years.

Des Moines North is 2-0 to start a season for the first time in 37 years. The Polar Bears are led by senior quarterback Kaine Burch, who has rushed for 93 yards and passed for 204 yards. Burch is 17-of-30 passing with two touchdown passes.

Senior fullback Luis Montoya is North’s leading rusher with 184 yards on 31 carries. Andrew Phillips, a senior wingback has 98 yards rushing and has caught seven passes for 93 yards, including the two North touchdown passes.

“They like to pound their fullback up the middle at teams and (Phillips) has the speed and can get past people quickly. The quarterback does a good job of reading the defense and running the option for them,” Ergenbright said.

“We have to defend the dive, the quarterback and the pitch on the option. It’s about assignment-sound defense,” he said.

Newton has scored 105 points in its two victories this season. Senior Jordan Norvell leads the running back corps with 115 yards on 14 carries and junior Jaron Roush has 97 yards on 18 carries. The Cardinals have had seven players score rushing touchdowns.

Junior quarterback Garrett Sturtz is 11-of-12 passing for 163 yards and three touchdowns. Junior Trevor Ergenbright is the leading receiver with six catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns.

“We have been preparing to play our best game of the season. We have to continue to execute our running game — inside and out on the edge — to open up our passing game,” Ergenbright said. “This will be a test for our offensive line to block against several bigger active defensive linemen. We have to move the ball with our running game.”

North has kicked two field goals this season. Sophomore Nahimana Meschack kicked a 22-yarder in the fourth quarter to lift the Polar Bears over Sioux City West.

Senior Musa Allison and junior Caveon Stallings lead the North defense with double-digit tackle totals. The Polar Bears have eight fumble recoveries and one interception.

Newton’s defense is led by senior linebackers Reese Rosenquist and Brady Smith with 10.5 and 9.5 tackles, respectively. Junior linebacker Joe Busch had nine tackles and junior linebacker Blayden Rhone has two quarterback sacks. As a team, the Cardinals have 19 tackles for loss plus five fumble recoveries and one interception.

Ergenbright said several players have been out sick throughout the week, but is hoping to have them well by Friday’s game. Sophomore defensive end Jaise Gulling, who sat out last week’s game, is back on the field as will be junior defensive back Cole Cazett.

Junior running back Josh Miravalles is still out of the lineup with a nagging back injury. Also out with injuries suffered in the preseason are sophomore running back Thomas Cox (hand), junior tight end Grant Garvis (leg) and sophomore defensive back Elijah Sander (leg).

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com