Long runs push Cascade to big win

Even the top marathon runners in the world don't trot at top speed every step of their 26-mile treks. They find their stride at a typical spot in the race, sprint the final leg and cross the finish line with tape stuck to their chests.

The high school football season completed Week Five on Friday night with Cascade capturing a 49-7 homecoming win over visiting Middle Tennessee Christian.

The seventh-ranked Champions improved to 5-0 overall and 4-0 in Region 5-A despite not playing their best football in previous weeks. But, they appear to be finding their stride as they gun for a first-place finish in the region.

On paper it doesn't look like the statistics warrant such a lopsided result. The victors totaled 30 offensive plays, including 20 rushes and five completed passes by quarterback Jacob Carkuff.

However, they averaged 11.2 yards per carry and three of Carkuff's darts went for scores.

"Our kids came to play tonight," Cascade coach Kenny Parker said. "The kids just executed well. We blocked and tackled tonight. It's time for us to be running on all cylinders. Homecoming distractions didn't have anything to do with it."

Honorary captain Kyle Brown tabbed heads on the opening coin toss to get the hosts the choice of what to do with the football. They gladly asked to go on offense first and did they ever.

Cory Phillips carried the ball five times for 35 yards and capped the 11-play, 80-yard march with a 6-yard touchdown reception from Carkuff. None of their other series lasted longer than three plays.

Parker and his boys entertained the capacity crowd with an explosion of big plays on both sides of the ball.

"I really do appreciate our crowd," he said. "They don't realize how much they mean to our kids."

Cascade's 'D' forced four three-and-outs and a trio of turnovers, including a Julian Marable interception on MTC's opening drive.

On third-and-13, Carkuff rolled right and lofted a pass over a pair of defenders into the outstretched arms of Ryan Morton, who took it to the house for a 59-yard TD.

At the 10:32 mark of the second quarter, Champion safety Albert Hatchett scooped up a fumble after a big hit by teammate Josh Gathright and raced 48 yards to the end zone.

Matt Henderson's third and final carry went 72 yards to paydirt on the first play of their next series on offense.

After Carkuff threaded the needle on an 11-yard TD strike to Gerald "Happy" Johnson, Ricky Hord picked off Scot Bartilson pass and zigzagged 32 yards across the field to put Cascade ahead 42-0 with 3:07 to go in the opening half.

The lone bright spot for the Cougars (1-4, 0-4) came in the fourth quarter when Jeff Francis faded a ball to the corner of the end zone that dropped perfectly into the hands of tight end John Wright.

"They made a great play down there," Parker said. "We free-lance substituted last week and a couple kids got hurt tonight. We tried to move some kids in and leave some starters in and piece around, but they made a good play. Hats off to them."

Senior tailback Timo Murray took a pitch and outran everybody 43 yards for the hosts' final TD. Josh Molder booted the extra point in relief of MoMo Stewart, who was successful on all six of his PATs.

Brandon Pickett paced the Champs defensively with 10 tackles (four solo) and a sack. Gathright totaled seven stops and Chris Martin six (four solo). They held MTC to 138 total yards (93 on the ground).

"I was really proud of the secondary," Parker said. "We knew they were going to throw the football. They stepped up back there."

Cascade gets their toughest challenge to date next Friday when they trip to Chapel Hill to face rival Forrest, whose undefeated run ended at Jo Byrns.