GAME OF THE WEEK: Cards looking for redemption vs Tigers

LUVERNE — Last season, the Harrisburg Tigers defeated the Luverne Cardinals 28-13. This year, the Cardinals get another shot at the Tigers when they face them today at 7 p.m. in Luverne.

The Cardinals have struggled against the Tigers in recent years, losing the last two games coming into today’s matchup.

“We haven’t had good luck with Harrisburg in the past,” Cardinals coach Todd Oye said. “They are always a strong and fast team.”

This year, however, the Cardinals are looking to make the game a lot more interesting.

“We hope we can compete with them this year,” Oye said. “Last year, they made us work hard to get the points we did. We just need to get first downs and put more points on the board.”

The Tigers return their top quarterback/wide receiver combo in Andrew McCuen and Trevor Deschepper, who torched the Cardinals last season. Deschepper had four receptions in the game for 184 yards and three touchdowns while McCuen went 12-for-13 on the pass for 296 yards and four touchdowns.

“We gave up too many big plays to them last year, so we have to put a stop to those,” Oye said. “We also committed too many turnovers, so we have to solve that too.”

The main issue for the Cardinals in last year’s game, Oye said, was missed assignments on the defensive side of the ball along with a lack of execution.

“If we align correctly and understand our roles on defense we will be able to execute better than we did in the last game,” Oye said. “We have good players. It will just depend on how they respond to what goes on in the game.”

One big thing Luverne does have on its side is third-year starting quarterback Brett Heronimus. Oye hopes Heronimus’ experience and leadership can help the Cardinals past the Tigers.

“It will be a tough ballgame,” Oye said. “It will just be good high school football.”

In other area football action today, Mountain Lake Area faces Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton at 7 p.m. in Mountain Lake, while Red Rock Central hosts Sleepy Eye Saint Mary’s at 7 p.m. in Lamberton. Windom Area is also at home facing Martin County West at 7 p.m. in Windom.

Other teams at home today are Central Lyon, who plays host to Western Christian at 7 p.m. in Rock Rapids, Harris-Lake Park, who takes on North Iowa at 7 p.m. in Lake Park and Sheldon, who will face Spencer at 7 p.m. in Sheldon.

On the road today is Sibley-Ocheyedan, who plays at 7 p.m. in Okoboji.

Tags: sports, prep, luverne, football