By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
MCMINNVILLE, Ore.– The heartbreak of last season, that overtime defeat to Henley, drove the Cascade Football team for this season. This run even.
Each game, they put their best foot forward to get back to the 4A State Semifinals and to redeem themselves.
And they did just that.
Defeating a familiar foe in Scappoose 55-19 to advance to their first 4A State Championship Game since the 2015 season when they won it all.
“It means everything to us. Last year we didn’t anticipate losing, but things happen and I think we carried that loss with us and used it for motivation the whole year,” said Matthew Hinkle.
“It’s an amazing feeling to put in all of this work in the Spring, the Summer. Practice everyday, all the work that we do and it’s paying off thos year,” adds Bryce Kuenzi.
Kuenzi did Kuenzi things in the Final Four matchup, rushing for 267 yards on 33 carries with six touchdowns. His line allowed the offense to produce 492 total yards, 372 of them on the ground, to pace the fast-paced Scappoose offense that their defense were facing.
“The games are won in the trenches and people who want it more , they take it home,” said Cascade senior lineman Bryce May. “The first half, we came out kind of timid. The second half, we talked with each other, we got more confident and we started to roll after that.”
Cascade led 22-13 at the halftime intermission. Scappoose pulled back within nine with 50 seconds left in the half on a play that saw Josiah Hawkins get injured trying to make a play and was taken off the field. Hawkins made four receptions for 49 yards and a receiving touchdown before leaving the game.
But, despite the injury and the slow start to the game, they pulled it together.
Their offense scored pretty quickly out of halftime, their defense got a stop, then their offense scored again. Cascade outscored Scappoose 33-6 in the second half to separate themselves.
“Out biggest goal was to getting those stops. We knew it was going to be a mental battle the whole time, and if we could get some three-and-outs on defense and stop them up front, stop their screen and pass game, then it’ll be over,” said Hinkle, who led the Cougars with seven tackles defensively.
Battled tested. That’s what they’re walking into the State Title Game this next week as.
Junction City last week. Scappoose this week. They’re ready to what they can do next week in the Title Game.
“That’s a great response. It was tight there in the first quarter. It was kinda going back-and-forth, then we had an injury at halftime on a big play and you’re like ‘holy smokes, you don’t want that’. You’re hoping everyone is ok,” starts Cascade Head Coach Shane Hedrick. “But we’re excited who out next opponent will be.”
As for Hedrick. The longtime coach has finally gotten to the finals for the first-time as Head Coach. Seven tries prior to this, now he’s gotten to the final game of the season.
“It feels good,” smiles Hedrick. “It wasn’t on my mind about Semi-Finals, it was on finishing well with a good football team. I’m proud of the kids and how they responded today. That’s where my excitement is now.”
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
