BELLEVILLE - On the second play of the game, Cambridge running back Collin Blagus ran the ball 79 yards to the end zone.
Things never improved for Belleville-Albany, as the Blue Jays downed the Wildcats 27-0 Friday on Senior Night in Belleville. The loss forces the Wildcats into a win-or-go-home playoff situation Thursday night.
After the game, Belleville-Albany coach Jeff Minter said his team didn't play the way it should have, but he gave credit for Cambridge for coming out and taking the game.
"I don't want to take anything away from Cambridge. They played a lot harder than we did," Minter said.
After losing the first four games of the season, the Wildcats won two in a row. They've lost their last two conference games.
"We lost those first four games, but we played our tails off in every one of them. Then we won two and we lost our edge," he said.
There were several times in the game when Belleville-Albany looked like it would be able to sustain a drive, only to have its offense stopped by Cambridge's defense.
Junior running back Brendon Campbell led the Wildcats with 103 yards rushing on 23 carries. Senior quarterback Ryan Hendrickson completed 8 of 12 passes for 76 yards with one interception.
Meanwhile, the Wildcats' defense looked solid for most of the game. Cambridge didn't score any points the third quarter, but the Blue Jays connected on passes when they needed to and their defense came up with an interception midway through the fourth quarter that ended any chance for Belleville-Albany to pull out a miraculous finish.
Cambridge junior quarterback Shane Leadholm and senior wide receiver Patrick Oates connected on three touchdown passes, from 21 yards out, from 15 yards at the end of the first half and from 23 yards out in the fourth quarter. Oates finished the game with three receptions for 59 yards.
With Friday's loss, Belleville-Albany finds itself facing a rival Thursday as the Wildcats travel to New Glarus to fight for a playoff spot. If the Wildcats win, they go on to playoffs. If they lose, their season comes to an end.
Minter said the coaches can only do so much to prepare their team and then it's up to the players. It's up to them to be ready for the Glarner Knights.
"They're playing a rival," Minter said. "It's the last game of the year and they need to win to make the playoffs. If that doesn't get them motivated, I don't know what else will."
Things never improved for Belleville-Albany, as the Blue Jays downed the Wildcats 27-0 Friday on Senior Night in Belleville. The loss forces the Wildcats into a win-or-go-home playoff situation Thursday night.
After the game, Belleville-Albany coach Jeff Minter said his team didn't play the way it should have, but he gave credit for Cambridge for coming out and taking the game.
"I don't want to take anything away from Cambridge. They played a lot harder than we did," Minter said.
After losing the first four games of the season, the Wildcats won two in a row. They've lost their last two conference games.
"We lost those first four games, but we played our tails off in every one of them. Then we won two and we lost our edge," he said.
There were several times in the game when Belleville-Albany looked like it would be able to sustain a drive, only to have its offense stopped by Cambridge's defense.
Junior running back Brendon Campbell led the Wildcats with 103 yards rushing on 23 carries. Senior quarterback Ryan Hendrickson completed 8 of 12 passes for 76 yards with one interception.
Meanwhile, the Wildcats' defense looked solid for most of the game. Cambridge didn't score any points the third quarter, but the Blue Jays connected on passes when they needed to and their defense came up with an interception midway through the fourth quarter that ended any chance for Belleville-Albany to pull out a miraculous finish.
Cambridge junior quarterback Shane Leadholm and senior wide receiver Patrick Oates connected on three touchdown passes, from 21 yards out, from 15 yards at the end of the first half and from 23 yards out in the fourth quarter. Oates finished the game with three receptions for 59 yards.
With Friday's loss, Belleville-Albany finds itself facing a rival Thursday as the Wildcats travel to New Glarus to fight for a playoff spot. If the Wildcats win, they go on to playoffs. If they lose, their season comes to an end.
Minter said the coaches can only do so much to prepare their team and then it's up to the players. It's up to them to be ready for the Glarner Knights.
"They're playing a rival," Minter said. "It's the last game of the year and they need to win to make the playoffs. If that doesn't get them motivated, I don't know what else will."
