'A great test for us': After an emotional loss, Cardinal Mooney wants to grow

EAST CHINA — Joe Quesnelle knew a change was necessary.

If the Cardinal Mooney football team wanted to grow, the longtime coach would have to "toughen up" its schedule. He did exactly that when the Cardinals agreed to a matchup with Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary.

"We gain nothing from winning 45-0 against team that's going to go 0-8," Quesnelle said. "This is a good team. We knew they were a good team coming in ... we're going to be a good team. But we have some things to clean up."

Cardinal Mooney fell short in an emotional battle against Lutheran Seminary, 43-32, at East China Stadium on Friday. The Cardinals dropped to 1-1 with the loss.

"We scheduled a team like this because it was a great test for us," Mooney running back Brendan Haisenleder said. "You've got to play the best to be the best. We've got to learn how to take on those good teams so that when we get to the playoffs, we're ready to go."

"We're going to see a team again like this," Mooney quarterback Brian Everhart said. "I believe (Clarkston Everest Collegiate) is just as good as them, if not better. It was a great test. I hope we see them again."

Both players gave Lutheran Seminary all it could handle. Haisenleder was incredible with 374 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Everhart had one passing touchdown, one rushing touchdown and caught an interception on defense. But they didn't want to talk about their accolades after the game.

"The (offensive) line is doing amazing," Haisenleder said. "You can thank them for everything."

"I want to give a shoutout to my (offensive) lineman in that second half," Everhart said. "In the first half, they struggled. But our coaches got through to them and they really stepped up in the second. And I appreciate that."

It was a stressful end to the first half for the Cardinals. Trailing 21-14 with just under three minutes left, they appeared to get a first down on fourth-and-1 in the red zone. But a late ruling by the officials determined that Mooney had actually fumbled the ball.

Quesnelle was irate and pleaded for an explanation. A few plays later, the Cardinals' defense was flagged for an offside penalty. He verbally disagreed and was ejected with 2:31 remaining in the second quarter. That moment sparked something in Mooney.

"Coach goes out there every single day at practice," Haisenleder said. "He works so hard watching film and doing everything for us. It's just one of those things that gives you that fuel to keep fighting."

The Cardinals' first two plays from scrimmage in the third quarter were handoffs to the senior tailback. Both resulted in touchdowns, with the second being an 84-yard strike that gave Mooney a 26-21 lead.

"Just give the ball to Haisenleder and hope for the best," Quesnelle said. "I've coached two running backs that've played at a university. One played for the University of Michigan, one played for the University of Toledo. And he's as good, if not better, than them. He's a thoroughbred running back."

But errors on special teams doomed the Cardinals from that point on. Lutheran Seminary scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to regain the lead and distance itself.

"We made mistakes and gave the game away tonight," Quesnelle said. "But you know what? You can correct (those mistakes) when your kids got good heart. I felt our kids showed a lot of heart tonight."

"I'm still excited (about our team)," Everhart said. "We're still going to work every single week. We have the same goals in mind, as our coaches say."

One of those goals is to keep growing. The Cardinals know games like these — especially the losses — are part of that process.

"Unfortunately, we couldn't pull it out tonight," Haisenleder said. "But it gives us more fuel to keep going every week."

Contact Brenden Welper at bwelper@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendenWelper.