BELL BUCKLE, Tenn. – The Cascade Champions (3-5, 0-4) were unable to capitalize on an inspired defensive performance, falling to Region 4-AAA foe Watertown (5-3, 3-1), 27-9, on Friday night. 

The Purple Tigers’ do-it-all quarterback, Garrett Davis, racked up 171 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 23 attempts while also finishing 9/18 passing for 137 yards with one touchdown and one interception. While the Champs’ defense bottled him up for 21 of those carries, it was two long runs of 41 yards and 62 yards that broke open the game for Watertown. 

The visitors also forced three Cascade interceptions, and all three of them were thrown to Jesse Bratcher. Bratcher also finished with four receptions offensively for 52 yards and one touchdown.

Sam Bradley, who started the season without throwing a pick through the first five games, saw his tally rise to seven INTs in the last three games. He finished 11/25 through the air for 134 yards and those three interceptions. Bradley also ran the ball for the Champs’ only touchdown of the night from five yards out, finishing with 49 yards rushing on 11 attempts. 

Corey Gooch (4) totaled four receptions for 26 yards in Friday's loss to Watertown.

David Smith

Nate Zimmerman helped out on the ground, totaling 48 yards on 13 attempts with 43 of those yards coming in the second half. For Watertown, Landon Harper and Will Burns IV combined for just 39 yards rushing on 16 attempts as the two tailbacks for the Purple Tigers.

To open the game, both defenses allowed the opposing offense to reach the red zone, but both defenses also bowed up to force a field goal. First, Watertown’s Brody Osborne connected from 34 yards out to cap off a nearly four-minute long opening march and put the visitors ahead 3-0 before Gabe Perez-Rubio responded with a 29-yard field goal of his own to draw Cascade level at 3-3 with 6:59 to go in the opening period. 

After Cascade forced a Watertown punt, Bratcher came away with the first of three interceptions on the night when Bradley aired out a deep ball down the right sideline intended for Corey Gooch. However, an inspired Cascade defense forced a three-and-out, and this theme of stout defenses would continue for the majority of the first half. 

Then, with 2:35 remaining in the second quarter, Ze’Shawn Swaggerty came through the Watertown line untouched, hitting Davis right as he released the football. The ball fluttered high in the air and came down in the waiting arms of Champions’ linebacker Kaden Hill for the second turnover in as many possessions for the Purple Tigers. Hill was finally brought down at the Watertown 20-yard line, and a few plays later Bradley ran it in from five yards out to give Cascade its first lead of the night. After a successful two-point conversion was called back for holding, the extended extra point was missed, leaving the score at 9-3 with just 1:20 left in the first half.

Sam Bradley (2) finished with 183 total yards and one rushing touchdown against a stout Purple Tigers defense on Friday.

David Smith

Because of a celebration penalty, Cascade was forced to kickoff from its own 20-yard line. Three plays later, Watertown was in the end zone. After the first play of the drive went nowhere, Watertown hurried to the line just in time for Davis to find Dacio Carter streaking behind the Champions’ defense due to a busted coverage for a 40-yard completion. Watertown took its final timeout of the half, and on the ensuing play, Davis, who had completed just two passes before this drive, found Bratcher for a spectacular contested catch in the end zone for a 24-yard go-ahead touchdown with just 22 seconds on the clock, putting the Purple Tigers ahead, 10-9, going into the halftime locker room.

Cascade would get the ball to start the second half, and managed to reach the Purple Tigers’ 31-yard line where they faced a 4th-and-4. Bradley tried to scramble right and pick up the yardage needed, but he was lassoed down short of the first down, turning the ball over on downs. 

Watertown marched down to the Cascade 13-yard line, taking 5:04 off the clock before the Champions’ forced the Purple Tigers to settle for a 24-yard field goal by Osborne to give the visitors a 13-9 lead with 3:32 left in the third quarter.

After picking up a first down, Cascade was forced to punt, and when Davis capped off a 92-yard drive that took just 3:30 off the clock, Watertown took a two-score lead for the first time all night at 20-9 with 10:10 remaining. 

Cascade reached Watertown territory, but Bradley’s third INT of the game was caught by Bratcher at his own one-yard line with 7:36 to go. Aided by penalties, the Purple Tigers were able to drive 99 yards in 4:14 to put the game away on a 10-yard touchdown run by Davis to take a commanding 27-9 lead.

Cascade would go four-and-out, allowing Watertown to kneel out the clock and punch their ticket to the Class AAA Playoffs.

Watertown takes on non-region foe Liberty Creek, before wrapping up the regular season with a massive Senior Night matchup against the Rockets from Chapel Hill.

Cascade’s bid for a postseason berth is officially over, and they turn to take on Marion County before wrapping up the regular season with the ‘Battle of Bedford’ on October 31st against Community.