CHAPEL HILL, Tenn. – The Cascade Champions (3-4, 0-3) suffered their third-consecutive loss of the season against the Rockets from Chapel Hill (6-2, 2-1) at 50-20, in a Region 4-AAA matchup on Friday night.

Chapel Hill’s superstar sophomore tailback, Quincy Mitchell, toted the rock 25 times for 329 yards and four touchdowns en route to setting the single-season rushing record at Chapel Hill in just eight games. So far in 2025, Mitchell has amassed 1,963 yards and 23 touchdowns on 165 carries, averaging 11.9 yards-per-rush in a dominant campaign. Mitchell also had two receptions for 40 yards and another score, including a 35-yard touchdown reception late in the first half.

Micah Morgan attempted just three passes, finishing 3/3 for a total of 42 yards and one touchdown while rushing eight times for 43 yards and two scores. 

For Cascade, Sam Bradley finished 14/25 with 188 yards and two touchdown passes along with matching his season total by throwing two interceptions. He also ran the ball 10 times for 66 yards. Also on the ground, Nate Zimmerman tallied eight rushes for 60 yards, and Josh Cunningham added eight carries for 24 yards and one touchdown.

After Cascade was forced to punt in Rockets’ territory, Chapel Hill opened the scoring on its first drive of the game thanks to a four-yard Morgan touchdown run with 3:13 left in the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead to cap off a 76-yard drive.

Following a fake punt attempt from Cascade, the Rockets put together a two-play, 55-yard touchdown drive thanks to a pair of carries by Mitchell, who found the end zone from 25 yards out to double the Rockets’ lead at 14-0 with 11:16 remaining in the first half.

On the Champs’ ensuing drive, Bradley was intercepted in Cascade territory by Chandler Schnapp, setting up an eventual 8-yard touchdown run by Mitchell with 7:52 to play to make it a 22-0 game after a successful two-point conversion.

Bradley instantly responded for Cascade on the very next snap, finding Corey Gooch behind the Rockets’ defense for a 72-yard touchdown pass. After a failed two-point conversion, Cascade trimmed the lead to 22-6 with 7:33 remaining in the half.

Not to be outdone, Quincy Mitchell broke free for a 68-yard touchdown run less than 30 seconds later, extending the Rockets’ lead to 29-6 with 7:07 left in the second quarter.

Cascade once again put together a scoring drive, this time capping it off with Bradley’s second touchdown pass to Delonte Clay from 27-yards out on a beautiful over-the-shoulder catch to cut the lead back to two scores, 29-13, with 5:05 left in the half.

However, the Rockets’ made it a perfect five touchdowns on their first five possessions after Morgan found Mitchell from 35 yards out on Morgan’s second pass attempt of the game to give Chapel Hill a 35-13 lead with 1:27 remaining in the quarter.

Bradley, who seemed to have his mojo back, led Cascade down to the Rockets’ red zone, but threw his second INT of the night to Braiden Bourne trying to find Braxtyn Burris over the middle to end the half.

To start the second half, Chapel Hill put together yet another scoring drive, capping it off with Mitchell’s fourth and final rushing touchdown of the night from nine yards out. After another successful two-point conversion, the Rockets’ lead grew to 43-13 with 10:54 to go in the third quarter.

Later on in the second half, Morgan found the end zone from eight yards out. Cascade put together one final touchdown drive with just over three minutes to go in the fourth quarter with Josh Cunningham scoring his first career touchdown on a one-yard plunge to reach the final margin of 50-20.

Chapel Hill sits in second place in Region 4-AAA as they begin their bye week.

Cascade will now look towards homecoming against Watertown on Friday night to try and stay alive in the hunt for a postseason berth.