Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
WASHINGTON – CUA used a number of big plays to win its sixth season opener in the last seven seasons on Friday evening with a 45-28 win over McDaniel inside Cardinal Stadium. Senior Greg Cordivari threw for 312 yards and four scores, while classmate Alonzo Cooke caught seven passes for 156 yards and two TDs.
Cordivari threw touchdown passes of 10 and 53 yards to Cooke, while Drew Papas recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a Cardinals touchdown and a huge shift in momentum.
CUA led 17-16 with 2:54 remaining in the opening half before Cordivari hit Tanner Keefe for a five-yard TD with 15 seconds on the clock, sending the Cards into halftime with a 24-16 advantage.
After McDaniel received the second half kick-off and went three-and-out, Ben Powers blew through the line to block Brett Haas' punt and Papas recovered for the lone touchdown of the quarter.
Keefe then opened the fourth with a 24-yard touchdown reception as the Cardinals lead grew to 38-16.
Mike Pitsenberger's seven-yard run with 5:10 to play capped the CUA scoring and sealed the season-opening win for the home team.
The Cardinals finished with 135 yards rushing and 312 through the air for 445 total yards. Conor Stueckler led the defense with 11 tackles, while Patrick Thomas and Kevin Ross totaled nine apiece.
CUA held McDaniel to a 4 of 16 showing on third down and totaled 20 first downs to the Green Terror's 16.
CUA received the opening kick-off and proceeded to drive 75 yards in only 1:35, capped by a 10-yard Cordivari to Cooke touchdown pass.
McDaniel cut the lead to four with a 37-yard field goal by Bill Castor late in the first, but CUA answered with a 53-yard strike from Cordivari to Cooke to make it 14-3 early in the second.
The Green Terror cut the lead to five with a touchdown, but missed the ensuing extra point, and the Cardinals answered with a 22-yard Brian Gongaware field goal to go in front 17-9.
A three-yard pass from Nick Valori to Nick O'Mella pulled the visitors to within one, until Cordivari hit Keefe just before the half.
CUA is back in action next Friday, September 7 when the Cardinals play host to Gallaudet on Community Night. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. from inside Cardinal Stadium.