‍ ‍The Millington Cardinals opened the 2026 football season at home against the Detroit Communications and Media Arts Pharaohs after last years run in the playoffs where they clenched a District Title against the Lutheran Northwest Crusaders 49-0. The Cardinals would then go on to lose in the Regionals against The Clinton Redskins, a heart breaking 18-20, ending there season with a 10-3 record.

The Millington Cardinals hold the #1 spot for Active Consecutive Winning Seasons at 37, 1989-present. Behind Marysville who has 39 consecutive winning seasons from 1965-2003.

The Cardinals came out strong Thursday night with a home crowd to cheer them on. Despite the Pharaohs getting the ball 1st, the Cardinals only needed 3 min in the 1st quarter to get there 1st Touchdown of the year after they recovered a Pharaoh fumble. A pass to Jr. #5 Brenden Wascher would land the cardinals inside the redzone. A run by Sophomore, #4 Brason Trato, would put the Cardinals on the 2 yard line. The Drive would be completed by Jr. #9 Hudson Myers as he leisurely jogs into the endzone for the 1st cardinal touchdown of the year. Unfortunately the Cards would fail to convert the 2pt attempt afterward.

The Cardinal defense showed great promise even this early in the season as they routinely stuffed their opponents offence for losses. That’s not to say there is nothing to clean up on that side of the ball as the Cards were seeing plenty of laundry on the field due to encroachment and other penalties.

Sr. #2 Layden Delong showed great situational awareness both as QB and Punt returner as on one punt return he moved away from the football only to scoop it up and run 10 yards after the Pharaoh defenders ran right past him and the ball. Another instance of good situational awareness was midway threw the 1st Qtr. when Delong snaped the ball from the 20yd line for a passing play a large gap opened in the left side of the field and he took it for a gain of 18 yards being tackled just short of the endzone at the 2 yd line. He would then hand the ball off to So. #22 Eli Staffne, to finish off the drive with a touchdown. The 2pt QB keep Conversation was successful, bring the score to 14-0 with 4:19 second left of the 1st Qtr.

That’s not the last we would hear from Delong because 1 minute and 15 seconds later he would return a punt from the Cardinals 45 yard line, 55 yards for the cardinals 3rd touch down in the Qtr. With a Good PAT attempted the score was 21-0 with 2:47 left in the 1st.

Going back to the Defense nothing has changed Millington is still steam rolling there opponent. Detroit CMA did get into cardinal territory after a brake out pass deep down field thrown by the Pharaoh’s Sr. QB #3 Kaleb Barnes to The Jr Deep back #6 Jaylen Woods; for the teams first 1st down of the game. Who would be immediately tackled by Cardinals Jr. Free Safety #14 Coleton Schisler. This momentum would not last a snap longer as the very next play #14 Coleton Schisler leaps into the air and intercepts the pass intended for Pharaoh’s #6 Jaylen Woods at the 6 yard line with 28 sec left of the 1st.

Fallowing the interception the Cardinals would snap the ball and and hand off the ball to #9 Myers who would see day light and off to the races he went. Myers would run 60 yards before he would be taken down at the Pharaoh’s 35 yard line. From there the cardinals would run out the rest of the 1st Qtr.

A group of football players in red uniforms, helmets, and black cleats, running onto the field with smoke in the background. One player holds an American flag, and the helmets have a cardinal logo.
Football players in a game, one in a red uniform and helmet with a bird logo, running with the ball, while another in a white uniform and black helmet attempts to tackle him. An official in black and white striped shirt is in the background.
Two high school football players competing for the ball on the field. One player in a red uniform with number 9 and a white helmet facing away from the camera, the other in a white uniform with purple accents and number 4, wearing a black helmet, reaching out toward the player in red.

The Strength of the Cardinals team did not waver after the 1 Qtr. as a little over a minute into 2nd Millington would find the endzone again thanks to #22 Eli Staffne, who to took a handoff and found a opening wide enough for a bus and ran threw without being touched, making the score 28-0

‍ ‍The story would remain much the same throughout the rest of the game. Though the Pharaohs would managed to score twice before the finale bell rang. Once in the 2nd Qtr. Where the Pharaohs would go for it on 4th down with 10 yards to go. A 36 yard pass from Pharaohs QB #3 Kaleb Barnes to #1 Kuronne Prescott would see to the Pharaohs 1st touchdown of the year, making the score 35-8 with 2:47 left in the 1st half

‍ In the 4th Qtr. with seconds left of the game the Pharaohs pull off a last second play that lead to a Pharaoh Touchedown. The Pharaoh QB #3 Kaleb Barnes passes the ball to Kuronne Prescott with less then 30sec left of play Prescott would turn on the after burners and run all the way down the field for a 83 yard touchdown as the last play of the game. Leading to a Cardinal Victory with a Final Score of 55-14.

Football players in action during a game, wearing uniforms and helmets, on a grassy field.
A digital scoreboard at a football game showing the score as 55 for the home team and 14 for the guest team, with the message 'a Cardinal!' displayed. The scoreboard has the stadium name 'Furno Field' and team name 'Millington Cardinals'.

Millington opens the 2026 football season at home

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