HUNTSVILLE -- Trey Waggle looked to his right and immediately saw the mismatch he was looking for.
[HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD: Full results + recaps, photos and more]
The Farmington junior quarterback saw his 6-foot-4 receiver Xavier Staten towering over the Huntsville defender, and knew that's where he was going. It was a play repeated over and over in the Cardinals' 43-0 nonconference win Friday night.
Farmington^8^28^7^0^—^43
Huntsville^0^0^0^0^—^0
First Quarter
Farm — Staten 20 pass from Waggle. (Jowers run), 5:37.
Second Quarter
Farm — Turner 2 run (run failed), 9:24.
Farm — Staten 8 run (Ball kick), 6:44.
Farm — McChristian 8 pass from Waggle (Oskey run), 4:29.
Farm — Staten 8 pass from Waggle (Ball kick), 2:00.
Third Quarter
Farm — Grey 13 pass from Waggle (Ball kick), 1:23.
"Oh, man I loved it," Waggle said. "He's real tall and real fast, so all I had to do was lob it up there. But great thanks to my line, too. I did not get touched tonight."
The Cardinals scored 43 points, but it was the play of Farmington's defense and special teams that paved the way. Farmington came up with two recoveries on kickoffs that led to two touchdowns, and the defense forced three Huntsville turnovers.
Farmington scored on its first offensive possessions, driving 49 yards to take an 8-0 lead, but it was not a smooth march by any means. The Cardinals had two penalties, and suffered 24 yards in losses before Waggle hit Staten on a key 37-yard strike on third and 27 to keep the drive alive.
"I think that was a game-changer," said Waggle of the key completion. "It gave us momentum and we were able to go fast-pace the whole game."
Waggle hit Staten on a back-shoulder pass for the touchdown with 5 minutes, 37 seconds left in the first quarter. The two later connected on a slant route for a score and Staten added a third touchdown on an 8-yard jet sweep.
Farmington coach Mike Adams said the offense had its bright spots, but it was the play of the defense and special teams that set the tone.
"Coach (Tracy) Sutton had a great plan tonight and our kids executed it," Adams said. "Particularly we had some starters that didn't get to play in the first half tonight, but those guys came through with a lot of younger kids playing and they really played their hearts out and played great."
Farmington held Huntsville (1-1) to just 134 yards of total offense -- 35 in the first half -- and posted a shutout after holding the Eagles out of the end zone late in the game after Huntsville moved inside the Farmington 5-yard line. The Cardinals forced a fumble to preserve the shutout.
Waggle finished the night 18-of-23 for 195 yards, and Staten caught 4 passes for 86 yards to lead the Cardinals offensively.
The Cardinals are at home for the first time this season next week when they host unbeaten Pea Ridge. Huntsville travels to take on Elkins in the final nonconference games of the regular season.
Sports on 09/10/2016