CORNING — The running back tandem of Kaleb Flournoy and Blake Ward blazed the path to victory as Corning defeated University Prep 42-7 at Cardinal Stadium in Corning.
Flournoy led the Cardinals to a 2-0 record with 10 carries for 146 yards and three touchdowns, including three carries for 102 yards and two touchdowns in the second half. Ward finished with 15 carries for 98 yards and two TDs.
“Reality is, that Flournoy kid, they had everything stuffed up and played defense perfectly and he just bounced it out to the outside and out ran everybody else,” said Corning coach John Studer. “Ward’s yards he gets his big plays too, but he’s more of that lunch pail guy that’s going to get you those yards inside even though he’s a little skinny guy (5-foot-10, 140 pounds), he knows how to find those holes and can nickel and dime you and get those 4 yards and 6 yards you need.”
Corning High School’s Manny Rodriguez (15) tries to tackle University Prep quarterback Talis Payne (5) during the first quarter of the Panthers and Cardinals’ game Friday, Sept. 5, 2025 at Cardinal Stadium in Corning, California. (Fritz Schulenburg/Contributed)
The Corning High School fans pack the grandstands of Cardinal Stadium for the Corning versus University Prep football game on Friday, Sept. 25, 2025 in Corning, California. (Fritz Schulenburg/Contributed)
Corning High School’s Kaleb Flournoy (3) tries to escape the tackle of University Prep’s Noah Lynam (55) in the Cardinals and Panthers game on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025 at Cardinal Stadium in Corning, California. (Fritz Schulenburg/Contributed)
Corning High School’s Ivan Jones (34) makes a catch during the Cardinals’ matchup against University Prep on Friday, Sept. 25, 2025 at Cardinal Stadium in Corning, California. (Fritz Schulenburg/Contributed)
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Corning High School’s Manny Rodriguez (15) tries to tackle University Prep quarterback Talis Payne (5) during the first quarter of the Panthers and Cardinals’ game Friday, Sept. 5, 2025 at Cardinal Stadium in Corning, California. (Fritz Schulenburg/Contributed)
Flournoy and Ward made their impact in all facets of the game. Both play linebacker and are in on special teams. Flournoy had three sacks and returned two punts inside the 5-yard line, however both returns were called back due to penalties. Flournoy put a stamp on the game with a sack to force a turnover on downs on the final play of the game.
After Flournoy rushed for 201 yards and three TDs in Corning’s Week 1 victory against Enterprise, the Cardinals opened their first drive of the game with a 40-yard passing TD from Casey Long to Manny Rodriguez with 9:26 remaining in the first quarter.
With 3:03 left in the second quarter, Flournoy capped an eight-play, 66-yard drive with a 7-yard TD in which he ran through two tackles run to give the Cardinals a 14-0 lead. The Cardinals took advantage of two personal foul calls against the Panthers on the drive.
In the Cardinals’ first possession of the second half, Flournoy got his second TD of the game with with 10:06 remaining in the third quarter. Flournoy weaved in and out of traffic and ran in untouched from 26 yards away.
After the Cardinals’ defense stopped the Panthers on three straight plays and forced a punt, it was Ward’s opportunity. He ran once for four yards, once for two yards, once for 10 yards, once for three yards and once for eight yards before a 1-yard TD run to give the Cardinals a 28-0 lead.
Ward got his second TD with 1:58 left in the third quarter when he waited for his blocker, ran right and scored on a 19-yard TD run to increase the Corning lead to 35-0.
U-Prep scored early in the fourth quarter when Braeden Ballensky ran to the outside and scored on a 32-yard rushing TD, but on the Cardinals’ first play from scrimmage after the score Flournoy had his longest run of the day, a 59-yard rushing TD to eclipse the 100-yard mark on the day (and second half).
“I noticed they were overplaying a lot, and you could tell they watched film and knew we were going, so cutting back, finding holes and blocks from my teammates and using their hard work to push myself.” Flournoy said.
Penalties were an issue for both teams, not only aggression penalties such as holding or late hits out of bounds, but also personal foul calls from both sides. The Panthers had a drive late in the first quarter and into the second quarter in which four penalties cost them 35 yards, and eventually they turned the ball over on downs. The Panthers had seven penalties in the first half and eight in the game, while Corning had three in the first half but six in the second half to finish with nine.
Flournoy, a captain for the Cardinals, said his teammates learned that they need to keep their mouths shut, and he admitted they had too many penalties they shouldn’t have. He said the team needs to hold each other accountable, and the players need to keep their heads on straight at all times and not let little things get to them.
“The No. 1 message was — I’m OK with hustle penalties, you’re going to get called for holding and penalties if you’re hustling and trying to make a play; I’m OK with that,” Studer said postgame. “I’m not OK with things like a push in the back inside the red zone that pushes you out of the red zone. That’s a mental mistake. … I understand this is a macho sport and you’re playing with high adrenaline and someone shoves you or says something and your natural instinct is to retaliate, but at some point our guys have to learn to put the team first and not put ourselves in those situations. It didn’t hurt us enough tonight to cost us the game, but down the road it will.”