Kanden Lafarge accounted for all 3 touchdowns for the Cardinals on Friday night but his effort just wasn't enough as Clinton dropped their fifth straight game to begin the 2024 season 0-5 after suffering a 33-18 defeat at Oak Grove.
Lafarge had an efficient night going 11 for 17 passing for 220 yards and 2 touchdowns while also rushing 8 times with 1 score.
Quintin Faught was on the receiving end of a long 80-yard score while Austin Petry secured 3 targets for 66 yards and the other touchdown through the air for Clinton.
However, turnovers creating additional opportunities for their opponents continue to plague this year's Redbirds. This week it was 2 more interceptions and another fumble.
Payton Goth added 2 catches for 37 yards for Clinton while their ground game was essentially held in check. Goth also led the Cardinals with 46 yards on 4 attempts, Brody Barnhart ran for 40 yards on 4 attempts and Markus Oliver finished with just 22 yards on 15 carries.
Defensively, Barnhart led the charge with 10 tackles. Faught contributed 7 while 6 apiece were added by Goth, Connor Bramell and Will Golder.
Barnhart and Golder each picked off the Panthers signal caller one time.
The Cardinals will look to notch their first win this Friday when they play at Versailles. The Tigers (1-4) have just one win this season sandwiched in between 2 losses on each side. Their most recent defeat came at the hands of the Warsaw Wildcats last Friday night by a 42-0 final.
