Friday night, for the first time ever, the SHS Cardinals took on the Perry Meridian Falcons at the newly built Falcon Stadium for their 2017 rivalry matchup. The field may have been different, but the result remained the same as it has for the past seven years, another win for Southport.

The Cards defeated the Falcons with a score of 24-0. SHS put up their biggest numbers in the first quarter, as juniors Rashawn Haskins and Jalen Caldwell each scored touchdowns and senior Hunter Cocherell kicked a field goal making the score 17-0.

Another rushing touchdown from Caldwell later on in the game during the fourth quarter made the final score 24-0.

The key to the Cards’ shutout win was their defense. They bullied the Falcons’ offensive line and had good coverage on receivers resulting in one fumble and the Falcons not even getting close enough to their end zone to kick a field goal.

“I think we were defensively sound,” senior Timmy Cassaday said. “We had a couple of mess ups but other than that, a big zero at the end is all that matters.”

The Cards success in defeating the Falcons allowed them to get their first win of the 2017 season, which according to head coach Brandon Winters, is big for the team’s confidence as they move deeper into the season.

“You start 0-2 and you start to get frustrated…,” Winters said. “So, for us (the win) is big for our confidence because the coaches know we’re a solid football team, but sometimes the players have trouble believing it when they’re losing.”

The Cardinals look to get another win as they travel to Terre Haute North to face the Patriots next Friday at 7:30P.M.