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Challengers clinch FWL crown By Kris Henry Updated: Oct 29, 2022 12:17 AM A A 7 View all photos Cascade Christian wraps up first unbeaten regular season in 10 years It was supposed to be another nail-biting battle to the end Friday night as Cascade Christian and South Umpqua squared off at Lithia & Driveway Fields. The Challengers, however, either didn’t get that memo or disregarded it completely. Playing for the Far West League title against their fellow undefeated Lancers, the Challengers shrugged off an early deficit with steady play on both sides of the ball to secure an impressive 35-6 victory. Both teams had entered the game tied at No. 2 overall in the Class 3A state power rankings, but it was Cascade Christian that clinched home-field advantage for the playoffs by registering its first unbeaten regular season in 10 years. The Challengers stand 9-0 after playing a FWL-only schedule this season. “It’s a great group of guys and they’ve been working hard for it coming off last year,” said Challengers head coach Jon Gettman. “They know how close they were and so that provides extra motivation.” Also boosting Cascade along was a 28-26 heartbreaking loss suffered one year ago against South Umpqua. “As a competitor, you remember the losses,” said Gettman, who has only endured 28 overall in his 13th season at the helm. “They hurt and they proved the motivation for the drive in front of you.” South Umpqua (8-1, 8-1 FWL) showed it had plenty of drive early on, taking the opening kickoff and marching downfield before capping the scoring drive with an 8-yard pass from Jace Johnson to Isaac Real. A two-point conversion pass was deflected to keep it at 6-0. “That was a great drive they put together, very methodical,” said Gettman. “They ran the ball and passed the ball really efficiently and got us out of position a few times.” Little did anyone know that would be the Lancers’ only scoring drive of the night. Cascade Christian put up an immediate answer when senior quarterback Keith Reed moved to his right under pressure but never brought his eyes down in finding junior receiver Peyton Maurer downfield for a 50-yard scoring strike. “The pass from Keith to Peyton to start it, that really got the momentum back for us,” said Gettman, “and after that we were able to maintain it.” After a defensive stop, the Challengers built a 14-6 cushion when Kameron Rague found a gaping hole created by his offensive line and burst 24 yards for a second-quarter touchdown with 1:35 to go until halftime. Gettman said he and his coaching staff would’ve been happy to take that one-score lead into intermission but sophomore cornerback Drew Hall had other plans, stepping in front of a Johnson pass in the middle of the field and returning it to the Lancers’ 28-yard line. Shortly thereafter, Reed slipped a quick pass out into the flat to senior Brody Sample, who tucked behind a block and then made his way down the sideline for a TD with 16 seconds remaining in the second quarter to make it 21-6. “We got that pick right before halftime and really that was a back-breaker,” said Gettman. Hall was a late addition to the Cascade Christian team after transferring from South Medford but has made an immediate impact. A standout football player in his youth football days, Hall had focused more on basketball in recent years before deciding to don the pads again. “He makes picks,” said Gettman of Hall. “We got him out later on in the season and he really has been a game-changer for us. He’s a smart, cerebral kid. Even the pick he had tonight, he had actually come off his guy, saw what was happening and made the play. You can coach them up but when it comes down to it, you’ve got athletes and they make plays and that’s what he did for us.” The landslide continued in the second half, with Tyler Almasy — moved from safety to cornerback — pulling in an interception after a pass by Johnson was tipped near the line of scrimmage and floated toward the sideline. Once again, the Challengers capitalized on the turnover with a 1-yard TD run by reed to make it 28-6. On the next series, senior Liam Benade lived out every defensive lineman’s dream when he made a leaping interception on an intended screen pass by Johnson and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown. “It was just a great individual play,” said Gettman of the 6-foot-2, 245-pounder. “He read screen and coach is always yelling at him, ‘If it’s easy, it’s wrong,’ and he stopped and took a step back. I thought he’d just knock it down but he caught it and it was great to see him score. That’s awesome to see a defensive lineman get into the end zone.” It was the cherry on top of a defensive effort that limited Johnson, one of the top 3A quarterbacks in the state, to 14-for-32 passing for 91 yards. South Umpqua managed only 161 yards of total offense. “I think that was the biggest key, just being able to keep in him in the pocket,” said Gettman. “That’s always a dangerous thing with how well he can throw the ball, but those big plays are when he’s able to break the pocket and create. Coach (Mike) Schann did an excellent job all week to get them ready and the kids executed the game plan and made the plays that needed to be made.” Reed completed 12 of 17 passes for 140 yards with one interception, while Rague added 59 yards rushing on 10 carries. Maurer had three catches for 78 yards and Sample added six for 48 yards. Defensively, Triston Wallace had seven tackles and Hall added six to lead the Challengers. South Umpqua6000—6 Cascade Christian714140—35 SU — Real 8 pass from Johnson (pass failed) CC — Maurer 50 pass from Reed (Hoffman kick) CC — Rague 24 run (Hoffman kick) CC — Sample 28 pass from Reed (Hoffman kick) CC — Reed 1 run (Hoffman kick) CC — Benade 38 interception return (Hoffman kick) Have a story idea? Reach sports editor Kris Henry at 541-776-4488, [email protected] or via Twitter @Kris_Henry Cascade Christian’s Kameron Rague (5) finds an opening for the Challengers’ second touchdown of the game on Friday against South Umpqua. Photo by Denise Baratta. Cascade Christian’s Peyton Maurer (13) hauls in a long pass for the Challengers’ first touchdown in Friday night’s game against South Umpqua. Photo by Denise Baratta. Cascade Christian's Drew Hall (11) runs past South Umpqua tacklers during Friday night’s game. Photo by Denise Baratta. Cascade Christian quarterback Keith Reed prepares to throw a long touchdown pass to Peyton Maurer in the first quarter against South Umpqua on Friday ngith. Photo by Denise Baratta. Cascade Christian’s Brody Sample (10) escapes a trio of South Umpqua defenders to score a third touchdown at the end of the second quarter on Friday. Photo by Denise Baratta. Cascade Christian's Kristofer Fralich and Isaac Simpson of South Umpqua, battle for a pass in the end zone on Friday night. Photo by Denise Baratta. Cascade Christian's Cole Shields (2) tackles South Umpqua’s Jacob Logan during Friday night’s game. Photo by Denise Baratta.