Cascade won the turnover battle 4-to-1 amidst consistent rainfall, wore down a McEwen team low on numbers and rolled to a 48-24 victory on Friday night at The Stable.

Cascade's Ricky Hord (2) looks for room to run on his way to an interception return for a touchdown. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"We get those athletes out in space, they're pretty good," said Cascade coach Kenny Parker, who got a pair of interceptions returned for scores from his secondary.

"We've had trouble scoring on that team in the past. To put 48 up against them, that speaks well of the kids and the effort that they gave us tonight."

The Warriors showed up in Wartrace with experience on their side after having numerous starters back from a season ago, but the Champions were able to get contributions from several players and aspects of their game en route to rolling up 34 second-half points.

"They moved the ball, and we knew they would have some success moving the ball," Parker said. "Our athletes made plays, and our offense did a good job of securing the ball and having drives.

"We didn't establish our blocks as well up front as we need to. But, this is a dad gum good football team we beat tonight."

The Champs sent a message early in a Region 5-A series that's always taken on a physical tone. They took 10 plays and 5:19 to go just 40 yards on their opening drive, culminating in Matt Henderson's 1-yard plunge into the end zone.

Warrior tailback Ethan Tummins should have had "SLIPPERY WHEN WET" posted on the back of his jersey. The senior totaled more rushing yards than the entire Cascade team (160-139) and got his squad on the board early into the second quarter with a 39-yard sprint to paydirt.

Senior fullback Tyler Carter stumbles into the end zone for a Champion touchdown. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"(Tummins) is a great athlete," Parker said. "Our kids said when you hit him, you just bounce off of him he's just so strong. I've seen him play since he was a sophomore. He's solid as a rock, good moves, runs hard, has speed. He's just a good football player."

Nine plays and 4:31 later, Cascade took the lead back for good when fullback Tyler Carter rumbled 13 yards for a TD. Jacob Carkuff rolled and found Henderson waiting on the pigskin all alone in the end zone for the two-point conversion to make it 14-6.

McEwen (1-1, 0-1 5-A) didn't go down without a fight. Their first drive of the second half was 14 plays long and chewed 7:56 off the clock with Tummins scoring a from a yard out. Unfortunately for the Warriors, they didn't capitalize on a single conversion attempt on any of their four TDs.

The Champs (2-0, 1-0) responded to the challenge immediately as Carkuff found a wide-open Michael Martin for a 19-yard score a mere 1:56 later.

"When we answered that as quick as we answered it, that was a big statement," Parker said.

Part of the Cascade game plan centered around getting a run-oriented Warrior squad out of their element by forcing them to play from behind with the clock ticking away. A pair of forced turnovers and 13 points later, mission accomplished.

Champion safety Gerald "Happy" Johnson intercepted a Blake Leegan pass and returned it 68 yards for a score. The next play from scrimmage, McEwen fullback Larry Baker fumbled and Henderson recovered. Three plays after that, Carkuff hit Johnson for a 49-yard TD.

With 9:56 left in the game, Tummins scored for the third time to make it 34-18. But, just as life started to flow back into the Warriors after forcing a three-and-out, Cascade cornerback Ricky Hord picked off a pass and darted 39 yards to the house. Josh Molder kicked his third of four extra points to put them up 41-18.

McEwen's Ethan Tummins finds a hole to run through. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Leegan hit Jesse Kowalewski for McEwen's final score. Henderson ran one in from 5 yards out for the victors' last TD.

Carkuff was 7-for-10 passing for 119 yards. Henderson was held in check, totaling 36 rushing yards on 18 carries.

Anthony McPheron led the hosts defensively with 11 tackles, Marcus McBee had 10 and JaVour Taylor nine.

The Warriors ground out 266 rushing yards on 44 attempts. Tummins totaled his 160 yards on 23 rushes.

Cascade trips to Clarksville Academy next week in another region matchup.