The Cascade seniors pose with coach Jared Carkuff before kickoff on Senior Night at the Stable. (Post Photo by Spencer Ato)
By SPENCER ATO
Sports Writer
BELL BUCKLE — After a tough game against Marion County resulting in a 76-7 loss for Cascade, and an emotional Senior Night prior to kickoff, the Cascade Champions saw their season come to a close in the season finale on Halloween night.
Cascade got an early start to their Senior Night when the parents and guardians of the Champions’ cheerleading team, football team, and band gathered on the field to celebrate their seniors and their accomplishments.
As the evening unfolded, the sense of community and pride only grew stronger, even if the final game of the Champions season hadn’t gone as they had hoped.
Cascade simply couldn’t catch a break after the coin toss.
A near immediate interception was made by Marion County’s Sam Pickett which resulted in a 45-yard touchdown return.
That score was quickly followed by another touchdown by the Warriors’ Tilton Pickett with 8:27 left to go in only the first quarter of the game.
The Warriors found their next touchdown three minutes later, however this time with a missed extra point, bringing the score to 20-0.
The final points of the first quarter came from a 54-yard touchdown pass to Sam Pickett.
It didn’t take the Warriors long to find their footing again in the second quarter of the game, as Mason Mays made a 47-yard run to end zone with 10:54 remaining in the quarter.
After a long back-and-forth, the Champions managed to score their only touchdown of the night from a 20-yard scramble from Braxtyn Burris with 5:47 left in the second quarter.
With yet another touchdown from Sam Pickett, and another touchdown by Marion County’s Mason Mays with 13 seconds left in the second quarter, the Warriors brought the score to 55-7 before halftime.
After an eventful first half, the third quarter of the game was relatively quiet, with only one touchdown scored by Marion County.
The Warriors found their rhythm again in the fourth quarter after Caden McCrary scored a touchdown halfway through the fourth quarter.
Marion County scored its final points and closed the game with Mason Swafford raising the score to the final 76-7.
A majority of the Champions’ team stayed on the field long after the game ended, soaking in what for some of them would be their last taste of the football limelight.
They gathered in one final, rallying huddle before saying their individual goodbyes and stepping off the field for the last time.
“I couldn’t ask for a better group of boys” Cascade head coach Jared Carkuff.
With the season over, Carkuff, the Champion coaching staff and returning players set their sights on the offseason and preparing for next year.
“I think they got the experience this year, basically everybody’s coming back so if they put in the work in the off season, it should be a special year next year,” Carkuff said.
Marion Co. 27 28 7 14 — 76
Cascade 0 7 0 0 — 7
