Cascade turnaround boosts 9-A title hopes

Ricky Hord (2) sprints past the MTC defense en route to the game-tying touchdown for Cascade. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

MURFREESBORO -- "It was just Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."

Cascade coach Kenny Parker hit the nail on the head describing his Champions' play comparing the two halves of their District 9-A game with Middle Tennessee Christian.

With no margin for error following a two-touchdown halftime deficit and a possible playoff spot on the line, No. 10 Cascade kicked it into gear late to win 28-21 on a cold and dreary Friday night at Throneberry Stadium.

The Champs scored 21 unanswered points late, including Matt Henderson's 1-yard push into the end zone with 4:14 left for the game-winner.

"I told our kids at halftime, the way we played in the first half, we didn't deserve to be in the playoffs. We didn't deserve to represent our school," Parker said. "But, I tell you what, we played in the second half. Offensively and defensively our kids came out and played in the second half.

"Our kids did a heckuva good job of turning it around, and I'm proud of 'em."

The Champions (5-3, 4-0 9-A) ran only 10 plays in just 3 minutes, 45 seconds the entire first half, yielding a total of 63 total yards. They nearly got into the locker room down just one score after a goal-line stand with 27 seconds left.

Disaster struck the next play as Cascade fumbled it right back over to MTC, who promptly punched it in with an Ivey Starling quarterback sneak to make it 21-7.

"We didn't want to take a chance on (quarterback Jared Carkuff) getting hit right there and going back and maybe hitting his knee on the goal-line. So, it was just a base dive up the middle to run the clock out. I don't know what happened with the handoff," Parker said.

Parker gave plenty of credit to his assistant coaches on the turnaround with the adjustments made during halftime.

The Cascade coaches felt like MTC (3-6, 3-2) was having success running the football because the Cougar offensive line was reaching the second level of the Champion defense. So, they swapped from a 4-4 defensive alignment to a 5-3 by dropping a linebacker for another defensive end, and it paid off.

"We wouldn't have been able to make that adjustment at the first of the season with the kids that we had out there. But, with the game experience since, (we could)," Parker said.

Cascade's Anthony McPheron brings down Middle Tennessee Christian fullback Stephen Brent. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Brandon Jarrell, who normally plays offensive line exclusively, came on to play strongside defensive end and the hosts simply didn't have an answer for the sophomore.

An MTC ground game that carried 35 times for 147 yards in the first two quarters alone, yielded but 10 yards on 13 attempts in the second half. Starling completed 3-of-7 passes for 45 yards early but was 0-for-7 late and intercepted by both Gerald "Happy" Johnson and Tyler Bowen. The Cougars totaled two first downs after the break with one coming on a penalty.

"That's as bad as we've played in the first half; they just mauled us up front. Our kids picked it up. We challenged them at halftime. I didn't feel like we got on the bus ready to play a football game," Parker said.

Although the hosts' coming out pounding the ball between the tackles didn't surprise anyone, Cascade could do little to stop it.

"We knew that's what they were going to do; we just didn't stop it," Parker said. "They just flat out executed better in the first half than we did. Our kids executed better in the second half than they did."

On the first Cougar drive, they went 90 yards on 17 plays in 7:56. Nathan Coats capped it by coasting into the end zone untouched.

Two plays later, MTC defensive tackle Logan Waldron recovered a fumble.

The Cougar offense went right back to work, overcoming a fourth-and-11 with a 17-yard pass from Starling to Jordan Watson, putting them into the red zone. Coats scored on the 12th play of the series from 3 yards out.

The Champs finally woke up their third time with the rock, needing but two plays in 30 seconds to find paydirt. Matt Henderson's 26-yard run was followed by a 25-yard TD run by Johnson with 6:23 remaining in the second quarter.

With 2:17 showing in the third quarter, Johnson hauled in an 11-yard TD pass from Carkuff on a fourth-and-goal from the 11 to bring the Champs to within 21-14.

With all the momentum in its favor, Cascade simply punched their hosts in the mouth the entire fourth quarter. The defense held the Cougars to minus-5 yards total that period.

After Jarrell slung down MTC runner Chris Beasley for an 8-yard loss to get the visiting crowd and sideline fired up, Bowen followed with his interception.

Five of the next six plays from scrimmage went for 9 yards or better, including Ricky Hord cradling in a shovel pass from Carkuff and weaving through traffic for a 21-yard score to tie it at 21-all with 6:59 to play.

Cascade's Gerald 'Happy' Johnson (7) carries Cougar defender R.J. Miller (5) with him upfield. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"In the first half, everybody was cold, it was windy, it was raining, it was wet, and everybody was miserable," Parker said. "They thought it was 100 degrees and we were on the beach in the second half because things were going good."

Johnson's 33-yard run set up the 1-yard scoring dive by Henderson.

With placekicker Josh Molder out indefinitely with an illness, a pair of Champions stepped up to replace the senior. Carkuff booted all four extra points successfully. Michael Martin handled kickoff duties, tagging one ball into the end zone for a touchback and another down to the 3-yard line.

Martin also paced his team with 14 tackles, including one for a loss. Anthony Smith followed with 10 stops.

Cascade ran the ball 27 times for 205 yards. Carkuff completed 7-of-13 passes for 66 yards.

The Champs can clinch the 9-A championship with a win at Moore County on Friday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30.