The Cardinals traveled to Branson on Friday night and returned home with a 50-16 victory.
Pheonix Johnson scored four times and each phase of the game - offense, defense, special teams - picked up a score in a variety of ways.
The first offensive series began near midfield and Breckin Williams hit Jarvis Jones for a quick 18 yard completion. Four consecutive running plays picked up another first down and Williams once again found Jones for a 21 yard completion setting up first and goal at the Pirate three. Johnson scored his first touchdown from 2 yards out to complete the nine play, fifty three yard drive.
The defense stuffed the Pirates into a punt and the Cardinals began near midfield again. They only needed a pass completion to Cooper Strasser to cover the first 36 yards and and Johson finished the two play drive with a 15 yard touchdown run and a 14-0 first quarter lead.
The second quarter had some good, some bad and some ugly. The Cardinals lost a fumbled punt, gave up a safety when they snapped the ball over the punters head, lost another fumble and then scored twice in four seconds.
Keaton Teal forced a Pirate fumble and Austin White picked it up and raced 65 yards for a defensive touchdown.
Cooper Smith then recovered one of the longest onside kicks when the Pirates failed to cover the live ball on their own eleven. Jamison Cady blasted into the endzone on the next play and the Cardinals carried a 28-2 lead into half.
The special teams got into the scoring column when Johnson returned the opening kick of the second half 89 yards.
Johson scored his fourth touchdown on the next series as the offense put together a nine play drive.
The Pirates were able to put together a couple of scores on their own before Willams and Jones added another touchdown with Jones using a stiff arm to break free on a 65 yard completion.
Defensively highlights included Nick Lovejoy, Jose Speer, Nate Brown and Gage Belcher each picking up a sack on the night and White and David Dotson recovering fumbles.
The Cardinals will return home next Friday to face the Neosho Wildcats.