Cascade splashes to win over Vikings

Cascade's Christian Edmondson (6) and Alex Ervin team up to bring down Community's Trey Barnes (28). The Vikings were held to 37 yards rushing. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Whether it was the rainy atmosphere that Mother Nature threatened with or the predictions of a lopsided score, the crowd size wasn't quite what you'd expect out of an intra-county rivalry between District 9-A foes.

Nevertheless, Cascade dominated both the field position battle and turnover ratio to defeat Community 45-0 at The Stable on Friday night.

The experienced Champions adapted better to the sloppy field conditions than the outmanned Vikings, even though the faucet from the heavens was clamped shut just prior to game time. Eight of Cascade's 12 drives started at the Community 39-yard line or better.

"We just didn't execute the way that we can," Community coach Johnnie Frost said. "That happens with a young, inexperienced ball club. But, we're not here to make excuses.

"We thought we had a pretty decent little scheme. Obviously, (the Champions) had done their homework and did a good job on the opposite end of it."

The football bounced around on the muddy turf on several occasions. The bounce of the ball was one-sided throughout as not one of Cascade's fumbles left their possession. However, the Vikings (0-7, 0-4 9-A) coughed up a pair of turnovers, which led to a total of 10 points.

Neither offense boasted any positive eye-raising statistics. Cascade (4-3, 3-0) ran it 26 times for 99 yards, while quarterback Jared Carkuff completed 7-of-14 passes for 76 yards, including a 9-yard scoring strike to tight end Michael Martin.

Champion senior Gerald 'Happy' Johnson (7) turns the corner on a 32-yard punt return for a touchdown with Viking Jonathan Handy (70) behind him. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker_ [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

The Champs registered their first shutout of the season with a dominant defensive effort. They didn't allow a single completed pass in six attempts and held the Community rushing attack to 37 yards on 35 carries.

Cascade coach Kenny Parker credited line play on both sides of the ball because "on a field like this, the hogs have got to play."

"Our defense played well tonight," he said. "We challenged them up front. We had seen where Community ran the football and ran it pretty good against Richland and didn't run it bad against Huntland. And, we knew that that's what they were going to come in wanting to do."

Matt Henderson's six first-quarter rushes yielded 70 yards and two touchdowns (3, 6) to help the Orange and Black to an early 14-0 lead.

On second-and-29 midway through the second quarter, Carkuff hit Tyler Bowen for a 32-yard gain to set up a Jordan Lacey 2-yard score with 5:27 showing.

Thirteen seconds after Martin's TD reception, defensive end Hunter Seibers fell on a fumble to give Cascade the ball on the Community 10. Three plays later, Josh Molder booted a 25-yard field goal to make it 31-0 at the half.

Gerald "Happy" Johnson's 32-yard punt return for a score put the upper hand at 38-0 and instituted the rolling-clock rule with 8:05 to go in the third quarter.

Community running back Gaston Smith (9) finds room to run after scooting past Cascade defenders Chance Hoffmeister (61) and Gavin Elmore. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"That's what we wanted to try to do was get the clock running and get our young kids in," Parker said. "I was real proud of the young kids tonight, especially on defense, to come in and do what they did (preserving the shutout)."

Caleb Chavis followed a 21-yard run with a 12-yard scamper to paydirt for the game's final points with 15:19 to play.

Frost complimented Cascade's veteran skill players for navigating the slippery surface with few mishaps.

"They have all been around for a long time. They know not to overextend on cuts and overextend on run plays," he said.

"They did a good job of idling down, being patient and waiting for holes then accelerating north and south."

Martin's seven tackles paced the Champion defense, which didn't allow a first down until Trey Barnes' 4-yard carry with 5:14 on the clock in the third quarter. Cody Glenn added six stops.

Both teams are back in action for district games that kick off Friday night at 7:30.

Community returns home for the first time in three weeks when they welcome Moore County.

Cascade ventures to Murfreesboro where they'll face Middle Tennessee Christian.