The SHS Cardinals played in the Big Rivals Night at Lucas Oil Stadium against rival Perry Meridian and won convincingly, 62-21.

In the first half alone, junior quarterback Luke Johnston had five touchdowns and 370 yards passing. Johnston ended the game with 463 yards and six touchdowns. Senior running back Cardell Tucker, who won the MVP of the game,  had two touchdown catches of longer than 60 yards (67 and 63) and had a total of four touchdowns.

Senior running back Kevin Wagner had multiple catches longer than 35 yards and two touchdowns. The first team offense scored every time they had the ball. Wagner, Tucker and Johnston thanked their offensive line for allowing there to be time to throw and for open holes.

“I’ve been sacked one time all year,” Johnston said. “And I didn’t even come close to getting touched tonight.”

Head coach Bill Peebles says that tonight that the team left everything on the field. Each side of the ball showed up and did their part to get the win, according to Peebles.

Peebles says that Perry Meridian did bring some things to the game that the Cards didn’t prepare for, but he says that the team adjusted well and shut the Falcons out after halftime.

“(Johnston) only missed two passes where he didn’t hit the guy in the hand,” Peebles said. “The defense struggled a bit at first, and (Perry Meridian) did some things we didn’t prepare for and they executed well putting up 21 points. (We) adjusted and played well from then on.”

Although the Cardinals lost senior linebacker Connor Moore in the first quarter to a shoulder injury, the team still got the convincing win.

Peebles says it is time to focus on Terre Haute North, a team that Peebles says gave them trouble last year, as they they squeaked out a double-OT victory, 11-10. Join the team next week at Perry Stadium as they play the Patriots for Terre Haute North at 7:30.