WARRENSBURG - There was a time not too long ago that any sort of mistake, unfortunate circumstance or reversal of fortune, would have totally upended the Warrensburg-Latham football cart.

A dropped pass, a blown assignment or an official's missed call would have sent the Cardinals into a whirling dervish-like tailspin.

Friday, the Cardinals had a couple of plays like that. One was an early interception thrown by quarterback Kirk Neibuhr that resulted in a Central A&M field goal, another a personal foul with the Raiders facing third-and-long. The penalty gave A&M a first down, and the next play was a hook-and-ladder for a touchdown.

No problem, as the Cardinals (4-3, 1-2 Okaw Valley Blue) just brushed it all aside in procuring a 34-22 win that puts them one step closer to playoff eligibility and keeps the Raiders (4-3, 1-2) one step away.

"We've preached `Respond to change' for a long time here, and they are finally doing it," coach Dave Hanson said. "We did some things different at practice this week to kind of shake them up. We'd make them think we were done, then break out into groups again just to see if we could sharpen the focus. It worked.

"We won this game between Tuesday and Thursday. We were well prepared. If we were going to be beat this week, it was going to be because they were the better team. Turns out, we were the better team."

Tim Willis was certainly prepared. The senior running back tallied 146 yards rushing and four touchdowns in leading the Cardinals.

"That first score, what was it, 40-45 yards? I knew it was going to be his night right then," Neibuhr said. "Our line was as good as I've ever seen them tonight, and Tim was so good."

The first score was just 35 yards, but it brought the Cardinals the lead at 7-3. After a 54-yard run by Bryce Ade pushed the Raiders back ahead, Willis again prodded Warrensburg ahead, culminating a 72-yard, 16-play drive with a 3-yard score. He also converted two fourth-down situations on fake punts, and both drives resulted in scores.

"The line was great for me, so I can't take all the credit," Willis said.

It's just another step in a walk-a-thon of recharging the Cardinals' football tradition.

"We always knew we could play well, but thinking it and doing it is two different things," Neibuhr said. "I think we've turned the corner. Now we're sure."

His coach has some reservations about that, but he thinks the team is very nearly there.

"We're on the precipice. We have two games left where we could really prove ourselves," Hanson said. "We'll see then."

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