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The George Rogers Clark Cardinals (4-5) faced difficult odds on Friday as they traveled to Lexington to take on defending 5A state champion Frederick Douglass.

A quick start by the Broncos proved too much to overcome.

Frederick Douglass jumped out to a 36-0 lead early in the second quarter, and the Cards fell 50-6 in Lexington.

“[They’re] a good football team. You can’t make out and make little mistakes on a good football team,” said GRC head coach Joe Chirico. “We [have] just got to keep working.”

The Cards received the football to open Friday’s contest.

However, they were forced to punt after gaining less than 10 yards on their opening possession.

The Broncos quickly took advantage, scoring with 7:01 remaining in the opening quarter on a 37-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jaxson Strautman to receiver Cooper Ranvier, who outleaped a GRC defender before carrying the ball the final ten yards into the endzone.

The Cards attempted to regain some momentum on the following drive.

However, hampered in part by a high snap that placed them inside their own 10-yard line, they would be forced to punt against a stout Broncos defense.

Junior Aveion Chenault, who has already received offers from a handful of NCAA Division 1 schools, including Kentucky, Ole Miss, and Michigan, returned the ensuing punt 45 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead with 4:15 remaining in the 1st quarter.

Chenault accounted for the Broncos’ next score just over a minute later on a 29-yard TD reception after the Cards were unsuccessful while attempting to convert on fourth down, giving them a 21-0 first-quarter advantage.

They would add two more scores in the 2nd quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by TayTay Allen plus a two-point conversion and a second touchdown pass from Strautman to Ranvier – this one from 11 yards – for a 36-0 halftime advantage.

Two touchdowns in the second quarter – including a 30-yard run by Allen – accounted for a 50-0 score after three quarters.

The Cards delivered in the fourth quarter when Hayden Heath, having moved to quarterback, scored on a 3-yard touchdown run.

He would come up just short on a two-point conversion attempt.

“They have great resilience,” coach Chirico said. “They never quit fighting, and that’s what I’m proud of.”

Douglass’ head coach had good things to say about GRC.

“[Our] kids [came] out and did a good job. They executed well,” said Frederick Douglass head coach Nate McPeek. “I’ve got a lot of respect for Joe. I think he’s [a] really good football coach. We have Marshall [University] ties. They’ve got a great staff. They’re young, and he’ll get them where they need to be.”

The Cards finish the regular season at Cardinal Stadium on Friday, Oct. 27, with a 7:30 p.m. matchup against Franklin County (9-0).