Turnovers, Boyd-Buchanan combine to halt Champs

CHATTANOOGA -- Coach Kenny Parker knew it would be an "uphill climb" if his 10th-ranked Cascade Champions were going to upset No. 2 Boyd-Buchanan in the Class 2A state quarterfinals Friday night.

A well-played, physical first half provided optimism for Cascade early, but seven turnovers proved to be too much to overcome and the Buccaneers prevailed 21-0.

"We had a chance early to make some plays and put some pressure on them, and we didn't," Parker said. "Hats off to them, they've got a good football team. We knew it was going to be an uphill battle. I really thought our kids battled."

Boyd-Buchanan (11-1) advances to host Rockwood (11-2) in the semifinals this Friday.

The Champs (8-4) converted on third-and-13, third-and-11, and fourth-and-nine on their second offensive series. However, the 16-play, 60-yard drive stalled on the Boyd-Buchanan 17-yard line. Josh Molder came on to attempt a 34-yard field goal but the Bucs busted through the line and blocked it.

Cascade didn't get any closer to scoring after that, rushing for only 50 yards on 18 attempts, and the Boyd-Buchanan defense, which has allowed just 6.7 points per game, proved to be everything it's hyped up to be.

"We had a pretty good (defense) in '03 and that's the year we won the state," Buccaneer coach Grant Reynolds said. "This one is right there with them, I think they're just as good."

Boyd-Buchanan's cornerbacks and free safety are all seniors and three-year starters. Their experience showed up as the pass defense came up with six interceptions, including three by Clint Babb and two more from Taylor Shull.

"We knew sooner or later they were going to throw the football because that's what we've seen them do on film. So, we schemed up some things to help defend the pass," Reynolds said.

The Champs got just two first downs the second half and five possessions lasted three plays or less.

Said Parker: "We just about had to go one-dimensional because we were having trouble running the football. We ran up against a good team tonight and didn't play as good as we can."

Despite being put in less-than-ideal situations with little to no room for error, the Cascade defense stood its ground on several occasions and held the Bucs out of the end zone until Hayden Meadows squeezed in for a touchdown on fourth-and-goal from the 1 with 4:30 left in the first half.

Quarterback Andrew Crowe scored from 3 yards out at the 6:31 mark of the third quarter. Joey Glisson's extra point made it 14-0.

The next seven Boyd-Buchanan possessions yielded just seven points, which came on Ben Beasley's 15-yard run with 8:16 to play. They ran the ball a total of 55 times for 253 yards with Beasley having 29 carries for 189 yards.

Cascade sophomore quarterback Jared Carkuff completed 12-of-28 passes for 129 yards. Tyler Bowen caught five balls for 66 yards. Matt Henderson was held to 33 rushing yards.

Jordan Lacey led the Champs defensively with nine tackles and two sacks. Michael Martin equalled his fellow senior with nine stops. Eric Ross and Anthony Smith had eight tackles apiece. Bowen, Caleb Chavis and Ricky Hord tallied seven stops each.

Sixteen Cascade players donned the orange and black for the final time. They took the torch from previous classes in continuing to build the program to the elite class of small-school football in Tennessee.

"We've had three really good classes in a row," Parker said. "That's why we've won our share of three region (or district) championships."

The seniors' four-year record combined is an astonishing 39-9.

"I remember when 39 games at Cascade was a milestone. In 8-10-12 years, 39 wins would have been great," Parker said.

Parker sounded like a father pushing his sons out into the real world as he proudly spoke of his time with this group.

"Not only are they great football players, they're great kids. They don't get into trouble. They make good grades for the most part. I love every one of them.

"Hopefully, they've learned something in these last four years of playing this game that will help them be better men, be better daddies and be productive citizens. That's what our job is as coaches. A lot of people think our job is to win football games. It is, but our job is to mold yo