In an evenly-matched game that was tied after 3 quarters, the Madrid football team, rated No. 5 in Class A, fell to Earlham, ranked No. 10 in Class A, on Friday, Sept. 27 in Earlham. 

The game was tied 7-7 at the half and remained tied 14-14 after 3 quarters, but the Cardinals scored one final time in the fourth quarter to score a victory in district play. 

Senior Preston Wicker was a force for the Tiger offense as he ended 4 for 9 with 69 yards. Wicker also ran for 22 carries for 163 yards and 2 touchdowns. 

Junior Easton Halverson had 8 carries for 57 yards, and sophomore Will Atkinson 7 carries for 41 yards 

Sophomore Emerson Bridgewater caught 2 receptions for 42 yards, and junior Loren Velky had 1 reception for 25 yards. 

Bridgewater was 2 for 2 on PATs. 

Wicker also was strong for the Tiger defense with 8.5 tackles (6 solo tackles) and 2.5 tackles for loss while sophomore Kinnick Grimm had 8 tackles (7 solo tackles). 

Unfortunately, the loss drops Madrid out of the rankings. Earlham moved up from No. 10 to No. 6 in Class A. 

The Tigers (3-2) next face Central Decatur (2-3) on Friday, Oct. 4, at Madrid for the Tigers’ final home game. 

-Jill Lutz reporting