By Mark Schmerling

Landrum’s defense stopped Walhalla cold on a goal line stand late in Friday’s game, but, after a subsequent Cardinal turnover, the hosts scored a late touchdown, to edge Landrum, 17-14, in high school football.

Landrum, now 1-1, visits rival Polk County (1-2) this Friday. Opening kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

On the second play of Friday’s contest, Cardinal quarterback Jacob Corn hit wide receiver Anthony Anderson, to give the Cardinals a 6-0 lead.

In the second quarter, Corn fired another TD pass, this to Caleb Pruitt, after which Skyler Powell scored the two-point conversion.

Walhalla scored a first-quarter TD, and added a second-quarter field goal, giving Landrum a 14-10 half-time lead.

Neither team scored in the third quarter.

Turnovers plagued the Cardinals, though head coach Jason Farmer is pleased with the level of player intensity. “The kids are continuing to play hard,” he emphasized. He also liked what he saw on defense. “We’re playing good defensively,” Farmer noted. But, he added, “If you only lose by three points, and have four turnovers, you know what the problem is.”

The last turnover spoiled what was a magnificent goal line stand by the Cardinals, who stopped the Razorbacks. Unfortunately, the Cardinals gave the ball back to the hosts, who scored with just over two minutes to go in the game.

“You’re never happy with losing,” said Farmer. “At least we’re not 0-2, he admitted.