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'BATTLE' DOMINANCE

Cascade handles Vikings to win sixth-straight

By CHRIS SIERS ~ sports@t-g.com
Posted 9/24/21

UNIONVILLE — Cascade coach Jake Tyre has been looking for a complete game effort from his team and in Friday night’s Battle of Bedford, the Champions delivered against rival …

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'BATTLE' DOMINANCE

Cascade handles Vikings to win sixth-straight

Posted

UNIONVILLE — Cascade coach Jake Tyre has been looking for a complete game effort from his team and in Friday night’s Battle of Bedford, the Champions delivered against rival Community. 

The Champs (6-0) piled up 307 total offensive yards, while holding the Vikings (2-3) to just 107, in a 33-14 victory to bump the current win-streak to six-straight. 

Friday’s atmosphere lived up to the billing of a traditional rivalry showdown, from the fans in attendance, to the play on the field. 

“It’s a typical rivalry game. We played about as complete of a ball game as we could. I’ve been waiting for this all year. We played four quarters of pretty good football,” Tyre said.

Viking coach Chris Grooms echoed Tyre’s sentiments about playing in the rivalry atmosphere. 

“Overall, I liked how we competed. Cascade is a good ball team. I loved the atmosphere,” Grooms said.

Cascade managed just three first-half possessions against Community, but scored on all three drives.

After forcing a three and out on the game’s opening drive, Cascade orchestrated a drive that ended with a 21-yard touchdown run by Cascade quarterback Ryan Inmon. 

Kicker Drake Hodge then connected on his first of four successful PATs, giving the Champs the 7-0 lead with 5:25 left in the opening quarter.

That first Champion drive took 4:28 off the clock and went 64 yards.

Following a touchback after the first Cascade touchdown, the Vikings found themselves backed up with third and 13 from their own 17-yard line after the offense stalled.

On fourth down, a pass interference call gave Community a fresh set of downs and allowed the Purple and Gold to close in on mid-field. 

But while the Vikings were able to keep the drive alive with a pass attempt earlier in the drive, the Cascade defense forced a turnover on downs and the Champions took possession on the Viking 49-yard line. 

Much like their first drive of the night, Cascade was able to move the ball at will and after milking nearly four minutes off the clock, the Champions once again found pay dirt on a Ryan Inmon five-yard touchdown.

Hodge’s kick after gave Cascade a commanding 14-0 lead.

The Vikings finally caught a break on the next kickoff and a 49-yard kickoff return by John Stanley, aided by a horse collar penalty on the Champions, Community was able to take advantage of the short field.

On fourth down from the Cascade 21-yard line, it was Viking quarterback Dallas Grooms connecting with Maki Fleming on a pass for the first Viking score of the night.

Gavin Garcia successfully added the two-point conversion to cut Cascade’s lead to six points. 

An ensuing onside kick didn’t fall in the Vikings’ favor and Cascade needed just four plays before settling for a 33-yard field goal by Hodge, to give the Champs a 17-8 lead at the half. 

Cascade’s first drive of the second half picked up where the first half left off.

The drive, which spanned 5:16, marched 82 yards before Inmon scored his third touchodwn of the night on another five-yard run with 6:14 left in the third frame.

That Cascade score didn’t deter the home team and the Vikings found an answer to the third Inmon score of the night. 

Taking over from the Vikings’ 35-yard line, Grooms was able to move the chains through the air, connecting on 3-of-5 attempts on the drive before pushing inside the Cascade five-yard line.

He finished the drive himself on a four-yard plunge, but the Vikings failed to convert the two-point attempt after. 

While the Vikings were able to cut the Champs’ advantage to 10 points by the end of the third, Cascade put the game out of reach with a strong finish in the fourth quarter.

Cascade looked to be in prime position to score a touchdown after driving to the Viking six-yard line, but a Community defensive stand forced a turnover on downs with 9:03 left.

Needing a quick score, the Vikings took over inside their own five-yard line but managed just three offensive plays before Blake Olive tackled Fleming in the end zone for the Cascade safety.

The Champs took the following possession 46 yards over four minutes before Connor Huie rattled loose on a 19-yard score for the final touchdown of the night. 

The very next play from scrimmage ended with a Xamarion Dixon interception, returned to the Viking 27.

With a dwindling clock, Cascade was able to run the ball just enough before finishing the game in victory formation.

After falling behind by two scores at multiple points in the game, Community could have folded, but Grooms says his team is full of fight.

“With our team, they’re fighters. They’re going to fight all the way to the end. They know it’s 48 minutes and they’re going to give you everything they have for all 48. I’m proud of them, unfortunately we didn’t come out with it,” he said.

Grooms proved effective, at times, through the air, completing 9-of-18 passes for 79 yards to lead the Community offense. 

The Viking ground game, however, fared much less effective against what’s been a dominant Cascade defense.

Community gained just 25 yards on the ground on 21 carries. 

Cascade saw Inmon once again lead the way with 118 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries.

He also completed a pass for 24 yards in the first quarter as well.

While Cascade has utilized a two-quarterback system that also features senior Elijah Arnold, Tyre said Inmon has played at a high level lately and got the lion’s share of touches on Friday.

“He (Inmon) has just been playing really well. I trust either one of them back there, but he’s been doing a really good job the last three or four games,” Tyre said.

While Inmon has been the big provider of the offense for the Champions over the past several weeks, Cascade saw Dixon get the wheels turning. He totaled 83 yards on 16 carries.

In total, Cascade totaled 268 yards on the ground and finished with 307 offensive yards.

The Vikings managed just 104 offensive yards against the Champion defense.

While Cascade ran the ball well and six different players carried the ball, Tyre was quick to credit the offensive line for creating the opportunities for the Champion run game.

“He (Dixon) has been coming on the last couple of weeks. They all ran the ball well tonight. The offensive line played like I’ve never seen. If there’s a player of the game, the offensive line gets it tonight,” Tyre said. 

Friday’s Battle of Bedford precedes what looks to be a key week next Friday for both Cascade and Community. 

Both teams return to their respective regions and with the playoffs in mind, looks to be a must-win for both squads.

The Vikings look to snap a two-game skid at Sequatchie County, while Cascade hosts the Forrest Rockets.

“We have to watch film, study and prep for Sequatchie. It’s a district game,” Groom said.

Sequatchie County enters Friday’s game against the Vikings on a three-game win streak.

Forrest, while unbeaten in Region 5-AA play, will travel to the Stable following a 42-15 blowout loss at Marion County.

“It’s a huge game. It’s our biggest rival and it could possibly be for the region championship. We’re both going to come out and play hard,” Tyre said.  

Cascade 7  10   7   9 — 33

Community 0    8   6   0 — 14 

First Quarter 

Cas — Ryan Inmon 21 run, (Drake Hodge kick), 5:25. 

Second Quarter 

Cas — Inmon 5 run, (Hodge kick), 7:36. 

Com — Maki Fleming 21 pass from Dallas Grooms, (Gavin Garcia 2pt. run), 3:26. 

Cas — Hodge 33 field goal, 1:24. 

Third Quarter

Cas — Inmon 5 run, (Hodge kick), 6:14.

Com — Grooms 4 run, (2pt. pass failed), :48.

Fourth Quarter 

Cas — Safety, 8:12. 

Cas — Connor Huie, (Hodge kick), 4:24.