LANDRUM – For Landrum’s football players, strong effort has been there all season, but execution had been spotty— until the Cardinals combined the two, to drub visiting West-Oak, 56-9, on Friday evening, Sept. 16.

Landrum, now 2-2, came this close to shutting out the Warriors, but still won emphatically, to lend a holiday atmosphere to Homecoming evening at Cardinal Stadium.

That combination of effort and execution pleased Cardinal head coach Jason Farmer.

“We really executed,” Farmer observed, noting, “We’re excited to win.”

How did it feel for the Cardinals to even their record?

“It’s better than 0-2 (the Cardinals’ record after two games). We decided when we were 0-2, we’d turn this thing around. I’m proud of their effort. When we mix effort and execution together, that’s how we can play,” said Farmer.

Part of that execution was three touchdowns by Kericho McAuley, and two from freshman quarterback Turner Ussery. One of McAuley’s scores came on an end zone catch of an Ussery pass.

The Cardinals quickly established their dominance, when, less than three minutes into the game, McAuley raced down the right side, for a 71-yard TD.

“Kericho has some really great speed,” Farmer observed. He also seems to display the instincts of a great athlete.

Landrum came close to another score when Ussery passed to Rashaun Brown, who was tackled near the Warriors’ goal line, but who had first barely stepped out of bounds at midfield, where the ball was spotted, after an accurate call by a referee.

After 12 minutes, Landrum led, 28-0, Shortly after, Ussery ran nine yards on a keeper for another score, his second. Ussery’s touchdown pass to Mcauley was set up in part by an electrifying play in which Ussery’s pass was tipped by a defender, but still caught by Skylar Ussery, who took the ball to the West-Oak 20.

West-Oak’s lone touchdown, late in the first half, came only after what Farmer referred to as his defense falling asleep briefly. Brief it was, as the Cardinals bent occasionally, but never broke, stopping numerous carries near, or behind the line of scrimmage.

Notable on defense was Johnny Martinez, in on many Landrum tackles.

At the half, with the Cardinals leading, 49-7, the game was essentially over, but rules require four 12-minute quarters. The Cardinals added yet another touchdown, when, with just over three minutes gone in the second half, Austin Hutchins eluded tacklers on a 19-yard jaunt.

Daulton Kykendall’s long run to the West-Oak one, late in the first half, had set up a one-yard burst, and score, by Wrenn Pierce.

West-Oak’s only points in the second half came on a fourth-quarter safety, when the Cardinals’ offense was backed up to its own one.

Farmer said his players would be able to savor their win over the weekend, but on Monday, they’d begin working hard to prepare for this Friday’s game at Walhalla, where the Razorbacks are also 2-2, after a 28-17 loss to Blacksburg on Sept. 16.