Cascade heading east for state quarters

Cascade looks to ride the momentum of a memorable come-from-behind victory a week ago as it trips to Boyd-Buchanan in the TSSAA Class 2A state quarterfinals Friday.

The 10th-ranked Champions (8-3) extended their winning streak to seven games last week by rallying from a 24-0 deficit to end fifth-ranked Signal Mountain's season 25-24 in thrilling fashion as Tyler Bowen came down with a two-point conversion pass from Jared Carkuff with 1:42 to play.

In his first-ever postseason start, Carkuff rebounded from four turnovers in the first half to finish 17-of-25 passing for 324 yards and three touchdowns.

"If we play four quarters like we did the last two last week, I like our chances with anybody," said Cascade coach Kenny Parker, who picked up his 100th career win at the Bell Buckle/Wartrace school in that second-round matchup.

"We know we can't go in and turn the ball over five times and spot Boyd 24 points and think we're going to be able to come back. Our kids know that."

The excitement from that amazing comeback at The Stable carried over to practice this week as Parker noted that his team has looked focused and sharp the last three days. The team has worked primarily on tempo, while also putting in the game plan for the second-ranked Buccaneers (10-1).

It will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools and is believed to be the first time a Cascade football team has played a game in the eastern time zone. Kickoff is at 7 EST.

Both teams earned a bye in the first round of the playoffs. Boyd-Buchanan won District 5-A, while the Champs owned District 9-A.

The bye seemed to have more of a negative effect on Cascade's offense that turned the ball over five times against Signal Mountain.

"A lot of it was rust. A lot of it was the mental preparation going into it," Parker said.

The Orange and Black started off 12-0 and went deeper than any other team in school history in 2008 in making the Class A quarterfinals before falling 22-0 to Jo Byrns. So, this team has a chance to use that experience as a springboard and continue the trend of advancing to the realm of the unknown.

"Last year going into this week we still hadn't lost a game, and we were way up there in the clouds," Parker said. "This year's team has experienced a loss and had to bounce back from it. When you're undefeated, there's a lot of pressure on you to stay undefeated. Going into this week, we're major underdogs. We're loose. We're just going in to play."

This is Boyd-Buchanan's 12th straight year in the playoffs. They lost in the quarters last year and won the Class A state championship in 2003.

On paper, a case can be made that the Bucs will be the toughest opponent Cascade's ever seen.

South Pittsburg gave Cascade one of its worst beatings in recent history, winning 57-14 in Week 3, which brought praise for the Pirates from Parker, "(South Pittsburg) is the best team I've ever faced since I've been at Cascade, no doubt."

Boyd-Buchanan defeated South Pittsburg 20-12 in Week 7. However, the Pirates were playing without quarterback Terrell Robinson on a drenched playing surface that negated much of their team speed.

Perhaps the Bucs' most impressive showing on their schedule came with their lone defeat when they fell 14-7 to Red Bank, the top-ranked team in Class 4A.

"We've played some good football teams this year, and this one is going to be another one," Parker said. "They're right in the league with (Davidson Academy and South Pittsburg). Depending on who you talk to, it's arguable who's the best. But, they can play."

Boyd-Buchanan is a senior-laden team that wants to grind it out offensively, is willing to play field position and win games with its defense and special teams. They run a Pro-I with some veer mixed in with quarterback Andrew Crowe running the show.

Tailback Ben Beasley carries the ball behind a massive offensive line, whose offensive tackles are Devin Caldwell (6-foot-5, 265 pounds) and Vincente Jordan (6-4, 320).

"Running the football and being physical offensively is the name of their game," Parker said. "They're good at what they do. They don't beat themselves."

The Buccaneers run a base 4-4 defense, which is as good as they come in 2A football, having only allowed only 80 points in 11 games. Outside linebacker Trey McCalla (6-2, 190) is a playmaker.

Cascade tailback Matt Henderson is 85 yards short of the 1,000-yard mark. Carkuff needs but 10 yards to reach 1,500 yards passing.

The winner advances to face the Hampton/Rockwood victor in the semifinals on Nov. 27.

How to get there: Take I-24 East and stay on I-24 to Moore Road exit 184. Turn left back over the interstate, crossing Brainerd Road and passing Brainerd High, which will be on the right. From there it's about two miles farther to Boyd-Buchanan and entrance is on the right.