TERRELL LESTER

Sports Editor

Over the last three years, while piling up the best record in Rogers County, the Sequoyah Eagles were unable to come up with a shutout till the season was virtually finished.

Friday night, the Eagles kicked off their high school football season with a shutout.

With junior quarterback Cody Richardson running for three touchdowns and the defense cashing in on big plays, the Eagles collared the Verdigris Cardinals, 28-0, at Sequoyah.

It was the Eagles’ third straight season-opening victory over the Cardinals and the win served to substantiate their Class 3A No. 5 ranking by The Associated Press.

The Eagles, who have won 30 games while losing but six in the last three seasons, had takeaways in every quarter against the Cardinals.

Barrett Smith recovered a fumble in the first period, Michael Wangsgard scored an interception in the second, Sam Radley and Cale Eidson picked up fumbled kickoffs in the third, and Cody Greer came up with an interception near the goal line on the last play of the game to preserve the shutout.

Verdigris matched the Eagles’ total of takeaways, but the Cardinals could not contain the breakaway running of juniors Richardson and Eidson.

Seth Cavanaugh intercepted Richardson twice in the first half and recovered a fumble in the third. Teammate Kyle Parnell added a third interception and Ryan Moss recovered a Sequoyah fumble.

Eidson (142 yards) and Richardson (80 yards) amassed 222 yards on the ground.

Richardson took the opening kickoff 49 yards to set the stage for a 46-yard touchdown drive, and ran 40 yards for a fourth quarter TD.

Eidson’s longest run was a 64-yarder in the third. Although Richardson eventually scored to cap the series, Eidson carried to the four before being pulled down from behind by the never-give-up effort of Kevin Stout.

Eidson also had runs of 13, 14 and 20 yards among his 14 carries.