Cardinals Grind Out Road Win in Season Opener

“We told our boys before the game that winning or losing should be the furthest thing from their minds. Our focus had to be on doing our best to play our brand of football by making sure we are the most physical team on the field. I was very pleased with the efforts of our offensive and defensive lines, and I thought our backs got stronger as the game wore on,” said Hilber.”

Friday night was a test, and Mayville passed it. The Cardinals opened the season on the road and walked out with a 33-20 win over Cedar Grove-Belgium, built on discipline, hard running, and a defense that refused to break, with the Cardinals controlling the game on the ground, piling up 300 rushing yards.

Mayville Head Coach Scott Hilber stated, “Cedar Grove-Belgium is a really good program and a perfect opponent for us to start the year with. They are big, physical and athletic, and they do a really good job of letting us know where we have to improve as a football team.”

Cedar Grove-Belgium hit first with a long touchdown pass, but Mayville answered right back when Joe Promersberger took a kickoff 94 yards to the end zone. From there, the Cardinals leaned on their ground game. Landen Baker carried the ball 23 times for 140 yards and two touchdowns, running with patience and power. Promersberger added two rushing touchdowns and finished the night with a team-high 166 all-purpose yards. Tanner Schneider chipped in 71 rushing yards, giving the Cardinals another steady option to move the chains.

Quarterback Emerson Mittelstadt managed the offense, picking up 34 passing yards and 26 on the ground, keeping Cedar Grove-Belgium honest.

On the other side of the ball, the Cardinals made sure nothing came easy. Owen Steger and Tate Drinkwine each tallied six tackles, with Drinkwine adding a sack. Kellen Schaeffer delivered a momentum-swinging sack for a 21-yard loss, and Promersberger closed the night with an interception.

Cedar Grove-Belgium kept fighting, getting 224 passing yards and two touchdowns from quarterback Carter Schmitz and a pair of field goals from Landon Altheimer, but the Cardinals never let them take control.

For Mayville, it wasn’t flashy, but it was Mayville football: win the line of scrimmage, finish drives, and trust each other for four quarters. The game was a reminder of its football identity. The Cardinals have long been known for controlling the clock with the run game and grinding through defensive lines. 

“We told our boys before the game that winning or losing should be the furthest thing from their minds. Our focus had to be on doing our best to play our brand of football by making sure we are the most physical team on the field. I was very pleased with the efforts of our offensive and defensive lines, and I thought our backs got stronger as the game wore on,” said Hilber.

That brand of football was on display Friday, and it’s something the program continues to teach every athlete who wears the jersey. 

As Coach Scott Hilber often notes, it’s about more than plays; it’s about embracing the tradition of Cardinal football. 

“This was a really good win for us, but it is only one step in the right direction. We have a lot of improvements to make if we want to be title contenders this season.”

At the end of the night, the scoreboard told the story: Mayville 33, Cedar Grove-Belgium 20.

Next week, the Cardinals take the field at home, looking to build on a road win that showed this team knows how to answer the call.

Mayville will continue with non-conference play on Friday, Aug. 29, taking on Horicon/Hustisford at Ray Dunn Field at 7 p.m.

Mayville, 33 at. Cedar Grove/Belgium, 20

Friday, August 22

MAY    14 0 7 12- 33

CGB  7  7 3 3 - 20

Team Statistics (MAY/CGB)

First Downs: 17/12; Rushes-yards: 15-330/4-48; Passing yards: 2-34/7-224; Fumbles-lost: 1-1/1-0; Penalties-yards: 5-40/3-30

Individual Statistics

RUSHING: Mayville, Baker 23-140 2TD; Promersberger 10-60 2TD; Schneider 8-72

PASSING: Mayville, Mittelstadt 2-5-34  

RECEIVING: Mayville, Baker 2-34 

Scoring summary- Q1 11:08, CGB, Schmitz to Gulke 55-yard pass, PAT good Altheimer (7-0); 10:53, MAY, Promersberger 94-yard KO return, PAT good Mlsna (7-7); 1:24, MAY, Baker 3-yard run, PAT good Mlsna (7-14); Q2 6:23, CGBL, Schmitz to Lukens 14-yard pass, PAT good Altheimer (14-14); Q3 9:04, MAY, Promersberger 15-yard run, PAT good Mlsna (14-21); 6:02, CBG, Altheimer 21-yard FG (17-21); Q4 11:42 CGB, Altheimer 25-yard FG (20-21); MAY,  Baker 15-yard run, PAT failed (20-27); 0:35, MAY, Promersberger 11-yard run, PAT blocked (20-33)