Post Photo by Chris Siers
Saebyn Burris gives a stiff arm and picks up a few yards on a pass reception from quarterback Damian Byford.
BELL BUCKLE — A week after rushing for 274 yards and six touchdowns, Champion senior Sawyer Lovvorn went back to work and led the potent Cascade (3-2) ground attack against Watertown.
Lovvorn ran it 27 times for 112 yards and three scores to lead Cascade past Watertown (2-3) on Homecoming night in a non-region matchup.
“I’ve said for the last few weeks, we’ve progressively gotten better. Coming out sluggish has been a bit of a downfall for us. I thought we came out defensively and offensively in rhythm. We weren’t ever out of rhythm tonight. Thats a great ball team,” Tyre said.
Cascade was in total control for the majority of the first half and took over half of the first quarter off the clock on the game’s opening drive.
The drive eventually stalled out on the 26-yard line, prompting the Champs to try a 43-yard Gabe Perez field goal.
Perez made good contact, but the kick missed just left.
After forcing a three and out on the first Watertown drive, Cascade once again established a clock-grinding drive that Lovvorn capped with a 4-yard touchdown run to put the Champs on the board with four seconds left.
Watertown fumbled away
Post Photo by Chris Siers
Damian Byford (2) and Jacob Cagle (3) celebrate after the first touchdown of the game in the first quarter.
the ball on the next drive and two plays later, Lovvorn notched his second score of the night, this time coming on a direct snap that he marched seven yards to the end zone for the 14-0 lead.
But Watertown eventually got things rolling and scored on a 6-yard run with just shy of seven minutes left in the half.
Having pulled within a score, it was a blocked punt by Joel Anthony that gave Cascade prime field position.
On the next play from scrimmage, Lovvorn rattled loose for 23 yards to score his third touchdown of the half.
Watertown wasn’t done, though.
The Purple Tigers answered within the final minute of the half on a scoring drive, aided by a Cascade penalty, that set up a 30-yard touchdown pass from Watertown quarterback Bret Price to Marcus Reynolds.
By halftime, Watertown had once again pulled within a touchdown of Cascade’s 21-14 lead.
Cascade’s final score of the night came early in the fourth quarter on a Hayden Dowell 23-yard touchdown run.
Watertown added one fourth-quarter touchdown as well, but couldn’t pull any closer of Cascade’s lead.
“We never backed ourselves up on offense and made the play calling a tad bit easier. We were close enough where we could run the ball or throw the ball. I think our offensive guys did a good job of mixing up some stuff. Coach (Glen) Tidwell did a great job on defense having them ready to play tonight. And the guys stepped up. We had a couple of busted coverages, but that’s going to happen,” Tyre said.
Anthony led the Cascade defense that answered the bell on Watertown’s spread offense.
“He (Anthony) has done a good job. We had to move him to a position he can excel at. A team like this that runs spread and isn’t a smash mouth football team. He’s going to have a good night. He’s got to use his speed. It’s just been a good night all the way around,” Tyre said.
Post Photo by Chris Siers
Hayden Dowell hauls in 32-yard pass from Byford in the third quarter.
The win marked the third-straight for the Champs, who appear to be gelling at the right time before facing the meat of the Region 4-2A schedule.
“We shot ourselves in the foot early on. We’re starting to not make the mistakes. We’re growing up. We’re meshing into a team. It’s fun to watch and see it come together like that,” Tyre said.
“ For the last 10 years, they’ve been one of the best teams in the state of Tennessee. I knew they would have something for us. Three touchdowns wouldn’t have been comfortable enough for me. I wasn’t comfortable until that last second ran off the clock. That’s a good team. They have some players. They’ll make some noise in 3-A. It feels good to see my guys believe in themselves. It’s starting to come together. We’re not even close to where we need to be, but it’s getting better.”
The Champions will return to the Stable on Friday night and will host the red-hot Forrest Rockets, who enters the game on a four-game win-streak.
The Rockets’ lone loss of the season came in Week 1 in a 17-0 loss to Watertown.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Watertown 0 14 0 7 — 21
Cascade 7 14 0 7 — 28
First Quarter
C — Sawyer Lovvorn 4 run, (Gabe Perez kick), 5:46.
Second Quarter
C — Lovvorn 7 run, (Perez kick), 11:23.
W — Adam Cooper 6 run, (Trey Pack kick), 6:51.
C — Lovvorn 23 run, (Perez kick), 1:02.
W — Marcus Reynolds 30 pass from Bret Price, (Pack kick), :13.
Fourth Quarter
C — Hayden Dowell 23 run, (Perez kick), 11:05.
W — Ethan Owen 20 pass from Price, (Pack kick), 3:13.
