Landrum’s Anthony Anderson scored two touchdowns, including one on a 94-yard kickoff return, and teammate Isaac McDowell picked up a loose ball, and ran it back for another score, but the visiting Chesnee Eagles scored a 55-21 win over the Cardinals on Friday, Oct. 9.

In all, the Cardinals got far too much practice returning kickoffs, even though Anderson’s romp lit up the hometown crowd.

The Cardinals are now 3-5 overall, and 1-3 in the region, the Eagles (3-4 and 3-1) being a region rival.

Landrum received the opening kickoff, but a fumble on the Cardinals’ 24 recovered by Chesnee helped open the door for the Eagles, who took a 7-0 lead on a pass to Isaiah Ellis in the Cardinal end zone, and never looked back.

Pass interceptions also hurt the Cardinals, with the first one taken to the Cardinals’ one-yard line. Chesnee was able to build a 42-0 lead before Anderson broke off the leash with his spectacular return.

Barely into the fourth quarter, McDowell picked up a loose ball, and ran it into the Chesnee end zone, A good PAT kick cut the Eagles’ lead to 48-14. Hurt on the play, McDowell was able to limp off the field.

Shortly afterward, Anderson tore down the left sideline for his second touchdown, a 52-yard tear. Anderson, possibly the fastest runner in the region, also enjoyed a 51-yard carry on the evening.

After the game, Landrum head coach Jason Farmer told his assembled players, “The first thing I want you to do is pick your heads up. When you play great teams, you have to play great. I’m proud of you because you didn’t give up tonight. We need to make it 4-4 next week.” He was referring to this Friday, Oct. 16, when the Cardinals visit Blacksburg.

Farmer, who said he didn’t feel the Cardinals were down when Chesnee led, 14-0, observed, “Our special teams played good . . . it was about our kids not giving up. We’ll get ready for Blacksburg. We’ll be moving on.”

Noting that the Cardinals are fielding a young team, Farmer promised, “The future’s bright.”

Opening kickoff at Blacksburg this Friday is set for 7:30 p.m.