Playoffs play into Cascade's plans

Senior center Taylor McAnally (67) and the Cascade offensive line are in for a physical contest versus McEwen. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

There are pros and cons that come with competing in Region 5-A.

Just like college football if you have your sights set on a national championship, every single game matters.

Of the 10-game high school regular season schedule, nine of those contests have playoff implications in this region.

A year ago, it took a tremendous effort by the Cascade defense to squeak out a 17-14 victory at McEwen. That loss for the Warriors proved to be rather costly as they finished as the No. 4 seed, had to face Region 5 champion Mt. Pleasant in the first round of the playoffs and wound up with a record of 7-4.

Expect this week's McEwen-Cascade matchup to be taken very seriously by both sides as they kick off at The Stable on Friday night at 7:30.

"This game is no less important than weeks nine and 10; they all count the same," Cascade coach Kenny Parker said. "You've got to have them all to accomplish your goal. You've just got to take them one at a time.

"There are going to be some good teams in our region that don't make the playoffs this year."

Both teams enter following easy victories in their season openers. Cascade won at Moore County 40-21. McEwen took down Class 2A rival Houston County 40-0.

Champion quarterback Jacob Carkuff ran for three touchdowns, passed for one more and totaled 170 yards to get his senior season off on the right foot. Wingback Ricky Hord averaged 39 yards per carry and helped put the game away in the third quarter with a 66-yard TD run. Defensively, six players totaled six tackles or more.

If the Orange and Black can get balanced production every week, they'll be tough to keep out of the playoff chase.

"The one thing about it is Ricky gets his yards because everybody's keying on (tailback) Matt (Henderson)," Parker said. "The more we have them keying on one person, the more somebody else is going to shine."

The Warriors have 18 starters back from last year's team that outscored opponents 224-152. They're always a physical bunch. Expect to hear some loud pops coming out of Wartrace on Friday night.

"They're going to come at you and hit you in the mouth and that's what we've been telling our guys all week," Parker said. "I think we'll step up for the challenge. I think our guys will respond."

Neither team is going to surprise the other very much, if at all. The Champs doesn't run any flea-flickers or halfback passes. They'll run everything out of their Wing-T offense unless they fall behind or are looking to score with the clock winding down.

McEwen coach L.C. Nolen is as set in his ways as anyone and his teams are always as fundamentally sound as it gets. They do what they do as solidly as anyone. This year they have plenty of talent to back their system.

"They're basically in the same thing they've been doing, just Double Tight, I (formation), Stacked-I, Inverted Wishbone, just coming right at you, just being physical churning it out," Parker said. "Then, when you least expect it, they throw a pass.

"We've got to play; it will be a big test for us."