By Holly Neumann

The Iola-Scandinavia Thunderbirds bested the Pacelli Cardinals on Friday 56-6 in a conference match-up at Goerke Field.

The T-Birds dominated the first half of the game led by Quarterback Cam Gruenwald, who scored three of his four touchdowns in the first quarter.

The Cardinals started the second quarter with the ball only to find themselves at fourth and 22, forcing them to kick it away.

On the T-Birds next possession Gruenwald threw the ball to Caleb Loken, followed by a short run by Bryce Huettner and then a pass to Adam Cherek, putting the T-Birds on the nine yard line. Cherek later ran the ball into the end-zone, with Kyle Jobke kicking the extra point, putting the T-birds up 28-0.

Pacelli started at the 32 yard line for their next time with the ball.

The Cardinals found themselves at fourth and three and decided to go for it, only to have quarterback Zachary Zimmerman’s pass to fall incomplete.

The T-Birds took over the ball on downs, when on a QB keeper by Gruenwald got them is scoring position again.

Gruenwald connected with Loken for a touchdown, followed by Jobke’s kick for the extra point, widening the gap to 35-0.

With Pacelli unable to do much with the ball the Cardinals were once again forced to punt the ball away.

Loken caught the kick and returned it to the 1 yard line for the T-Birds. Gruenwald punched it in on the next play, giving the T-Birds a 42-0 lead in the game.

The Cardinals were moving the ball up the field, putting them in scoring position, when Zimmerman went back for a pass only to it intercepted by Cherek in the end-zone.

The T-Birds first went to Kristian Welch followed by a QB keeper by Gruenwald. Welch was able to find the end-zone on the next play, bringing the score to 49-0.

After the kick Pacelli started out at the 35 yard line.

Zimmerman tossed the ball to Christopher Shibilski, who had a 65 yard run to the end-zone, putting 6 points on the board for the Cardinals. Zimmerman attempted a kick, only to have it blocked by Gio Fredheim, leaving the score at 49-6.

Loken returned the kick to the 44 yard line and the T-Birds were able to move the ball up the field on runs by Cody Breitzke, Jayden Sivertson and Scott Von Gunten.

Sivertson later threw the ball to Breitzke who ran the ball in for a touchdown. Jobke once again kicked the extra point, giving the T-Birds a 56-6 lead and ending the first half of the game.

With a running clock for the second half of the game, neither team was able to get on the board again, sealing the victory for the Iola-Scandinavia.

The T-Birds will host the Manawa Wolves on October 16 in Scandinavia, while the Cardinals will travel to Bonduel to take on the Bears.