CARRINGTON- For the 26th time in program history, the Carrington Cardinals will play postseason football after a physically dominant display in a 35-14 win over the Rugby Panthers on Friday night at Cardinal Stadium.

After a fumble led to a Taytum Risovi 27 yard touchdown run to give the Panthers (3-5, 2-4) an early 6-0 lead, Carrington (6-2, 4-2) responded as QB Josh Bickett scored on a 6-yard TD run for a 7-6 lead.  Then, in the final minute of the first, McKade Zink returned a punt 45 yards for a TD and a 14-6 lead.  Zink has special teams touchdowns in consecutive matchups against the Panthers.

Carrington would extend the lead as Josh Bickett would run in scores on 15 and one yard carries to extend out to a 28-6 lead.  Rugby would return a fumble for a score before Ryder Bickett rushed in from 16 yards to set the final score on his first rushing touchdown of the year.

The Cardinals defense allowed 95 total yards in the game while the offense ran for 312 yards for the game and never threw a pass after half time.

Carrington will play Bottineau on the road in the regular season finale on Friday night at 6:30 PM on KDAK The Cardinal.  The winner of the game will be the 3-seed in Region II.