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Excitement and anticipation filled Cardinal Stadium on Friday night as the George Rogers Clark High School football team prepared for its season opener against Central Hardin.

Despite their efforts, it was not to be rewarded with victory.

The Cards fell by the score of 42-22 to the Central Hardin Bruins – who advanced to last year’s quarterfinals in the Class 6A state football tournament.

“Our kids never quit fighting, and that’s a really good football team over there that’s senior-heavy,” said GRC Head Coach Joe Chirico. “I’m proud of our guys. I’m proud of the fight.”

The evening featured more than just George Rogers Clark High School football.

As a part of the first-ever Clark County Bowl, Berea and Betsy Layne High School faced off beforehand, with the latter dominating for a 37-0 victory.

Between the end of their game and the start of GRC’s battle, the newest members of the Clark County Public Schools Hall of Fame got introduced.

Once kickoff occurred, the Cards had the ball to open the contest.

After three straight plays that didn’t yield a first down, Central Hardin got their first game break following a blocked punt.

They would score on the ensuing drive following a 9-yard touchdown run by Walker Meredith, though the extra point was no good, thus keeping the score at 6-0.

Showing strength on special teams, freshman Haddon Cecil returned the ensuing kickoff approximately 50 yards for the Cards.

However, after keeping the Cards’ offense from gaining a first down, the Bruins went ahead 12-0 following a score on their next drive.

The Cards’ offense – led by QB Sam Clements – responded.

Following long receptions from wide receivers Trey Davis and Camahni John, they finished their first touchdown drive of the season with a 4-yard touchdown pass from Clements to Cecil.

Both teams would then trade scores, with the Cards narrowing the lead to 20-14 with just under 30 seconds remaining before halftime after Hayden Heath caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from Clements.

“Coach [Jordan] Ray called it up. We’ve been working on it all week, so I knew it was going to work”, said Heath. “Sam [threw] a great ball…and I just caught it.”

Unfortunately for the Cards, momentum would not be on their side for long.

Meredith returned the ensuing kickoff 91 yards for the Bruins, giving them a 28-14 lead following the two-point conversion with only nine seconds remaining before halftime.

After getting the ball to start the second half, the Bruins would open a 21-point lead when quarterback Caden Elmore connected with wide receiver R.J. Goodman for a 77-yard TD pass.

Although Heath would later score his second TD of the game – this time on a 4-yard TD run – and rush for a two-point conversion, the deficit proved too much to overcome.

“We’ve never played George Rogers Clark before, so we didn’t have much scouting stuff on them”, said Central Hardin Head Coach Tim Mattingly. “They gave us some wide-open passes there because they were bringing so much pressure on us to stop the run.”

Statistically, the Bruins finished with over 300 yards of total offense, including 109 yards rushing by junior Chase Bradley.

For the Cards, Clements – who threw for two TDs with one interception – also finished as the leading rusher with 75 yards. Heath compiled 12 rushes for 45 yards.

The Cards (0-1) will be in action again on Friday, Aug 25, at 8:00 p.m. against Belfry (1-0) in the Pike County Bowl at Belfry High School.