St. Paul football: Flatonia gets by Cardinals 49-26

St. Paul opened the 2023 season at Flatonia, coming up a little short 49-26.
The Cardinals opened scoring in the first quarter with a 2-yard run by Nate Boedeker to take a 7-0 lead.
Flatonia scored later for a 7-7 score after the end of the first quarter.
Zane Barta scored on a 3-yard run in the second frame with a missed point after and the Bulldogs scored twice to take a 21-13 lead at halftime.
After Flatonia took a 28-13 lead in the third quarter, Zeke Rodriguez had a 4-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Pilat with the two-point run coming up short, getting the Cardinals within 28-19.
In the fourth quarter, Rodriguez had a 33-yard touchdown pass to Jack Ehrig and Pilat converted his second extra point. The ‘Dogs scored twice more for the final score.
Boedeker led St. Paul on offense with 107 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown; Barta ran for 38 yards on 15 carries and one score; Sam Perez had 74 yards on four rushes; Rodriguez had four yards on four carries and Holden Jahn had three yards on two carries.
Rodriguez was 3-for-8 for 52 yards and two touchdowns.
Pilat had a touchdown catch of four yards and Ehrig had one catch, the 33-yard touchdown reception. Gabe Darilek had one catch for 15 yards.