Catch the highlights from Week 3 in high school football
Cashion mashes Crescent in annual rivalry game
CASHION — Cashion quarterback Griffin Lamb saw the wrong route immediately and then he noticed Crescent star Hunter Bowers barreling down on him in the backfield.
Lamb had to improvise, and fast.
He scrambled left as time expired in the second quarter, set his feet and let a pass go, aiming for a small window between defenders. It was all he needed.
Cashion receiver Alex Nabavi corralled the pass against his chest as he fell to the ground. He didn’t even let go as his teammates celebrated.
“It kind of put them away,” Nabavi said.
It was the backbreaking moment in a rivalry game between neighboring communities that turned into a blowout for a second straight season. No. 4 Cashion rolled to a 41-6 victory over No. 5 Crescent on Friday night in a huge District A-3 matchup.
The Wildcats improved
to 4-0 and 2-0 in district play.
They did that behind the precise passing of Lamb, a potent ground attack and a stifling defense. A 22-point second quarter capped by Lamb’s touchdown toss gave the Wildcats a 28-0 lead.
“I thought if we could keep chipping away and take a few shots when we have a chance, I thought we could get some points on them,” Cashion coach Lynn Shackelford said. “I wasn’t expecting this because of what it is.”
Lamb, a senior, completed 10 of 14 passes for 259 yards and three touchdowns. He opened the game with a 65-yard TD pass to Austin Vandruff and later threw a 61-yard TD to Brexton Green one play after Crescent failed to convert on fourth down.
“From the second I got here, I’ve only gotten better,” Lamb said.
Shackelford remained impressed with Lamb’s fast start through four games.
“He’s so much better than he was last year,” Shackelford said. “He’s played as well as I can expect him to play.”
But even Lamb was quick to praise the Wildcats’ defense.
They limited Bowers, a dynamic passer and rusher at quarterback. He completed just 9 of 21 passes for 137 yards and an interception. His longest pass was 56 yards. He also rushed for 30 yards on 10 carries.
Crescent (2-2) had just 183 offensive yards.
And it had little answer for a Cashion offense that put up 432 yards, including 173 on the ground. T.J Roberts had 112 of those and scored twice on the ground.
That made for a dominant performance nobody predicted.
“We didn’t think last year was going to happen, and I don’t think they did (this year) either,” Lamb said.