LANGDON (NewsDakota)- With three games remaining in the 2026 regular season, the Carrington Cardinals knew that winning any two of them would mean a return to the postseason.

Langdon Area/Munich made sure the needle would need threading.

Eastyn Schaefer shook off a tough first half to account for 214 yards and four touchdowns in Langdon’s 26-7 win over Carrington on Friday night in Langdon.

After both teams exchanged three-and-outs, Carrington (2-5, 2-3 Region 2A) struck first, as Gabe Clifton raced 52 yards on a third down run in the first to give the Cards a 7-0 lead.  Meanwhile, the Carrington defense suffocated Langdon for much of the first half before a bad snap on a punt set up the home team at the 31-yard line and on third down, Langdon executed the famous “Philly Special” play with Maddux Stremick finding Schaefer from 13 yards, but the extra point failed and Carrington led 7-6 at the half.

The third quarter proved decisive, as Langdon (6-1, 4-1 Region 2A) took two minutes and 40 seconds to take the lead on Schaefer’s nine-yard scoring pass to Gavin Trottier for a 12-7 lead.  Carrington went three-and-out and Schaefer scored on a 40-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 19-7 through three.

In the fourth, Schaefer scored from three yards out after a punt was blocked to set the final score.  For the game, Schaefer had all but 11 of Langdon’s total yards as a team (225).

The Cards return home on Friday night, hosting the Rugby Panthers with coverage on KDAK The Cardinal beginning at 5pm and game coverage on YouTube beginning at 6pm..  Carrington must defeat Rugby to have a shot at the postseason.

KDAK GameDay: