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Challengers’ Rague seizing his opportunity By Danny Penza Updated: Nov 17, 2022 08:46 PM A A 4 View all photos Cascade Christian running back showing his big-play ability during breakout sophomore year Kameron Rague isn’t afraid to say that he was learning on the fly as a freshman on the varsity level in 2021. “Last year,” said Rague before a healthy pause, “it was pretty rough.” While he’s now a sophomore who still hasn’t hit his 16th birthday yet, Rague is very much showing that Year 2 with Cascade Christian is a much more comfortable environment. Rague has emerged as one of the Challengers’ top playmakers this season and has become Cascade Christian’s first 1,000-yard rusher in at least a decade. “I didn’t really know any of the plays and I was still trying to learn them halfway through the season,” said Rague. “Now I feel comfortable with my guys and the plays and things just start to happen. … I feel like I’ve grown a lot. Coming from middle school, you have to step up a lot going to varsity and it’s not the same at all.” Of course, it helps that Rague stands 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, giving him the combination of size and speed that you don’t always see at the Class 3A level. Rague’s unique skill set — one that also shows itself when he plays as a safety on defense — has been one of the biggest driving forces in the second-seeded Challengers’ run to the 3A semifinals. Cascade Christian (11-0) faces sixth-seeded Dayton (9-2) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Cottage Grove High. “He’s a physical kid,” said Cascade Christian head coach Jon Gettman. “He’s a young kid, too, and he’s not even 16 yet. Just his physical stature is different than kids we’ve had before. He plays with that and he’s got confidence. He’s got the ability that I haven’t seen, so it’s a lot of fun to see him run or make tackles and come down and be a force as a safety in the run game and the pass game.” Coming out of last season, Rague had one major regret — that he wasn’t able to play in Cascade Christian’s quarterfinal loss to eventual 3A state champion Siuslaw due to a leg injury suffered the week before against Junction City. “Missing the last game against Siuslaw was really hard because I wanted to be out there with the team,” said Rague, who ran for 264 yards and three touchdowns as a freshman. “I came into this year wanting revenge, knowing both myself and the team wanted it.” This season, Rague has let his play do the talking. With senior running back Triston Wallace out early due to injury, Rague was able to find an early rhythm as he handled a bulk of the carries for a Cascade Christian team that entered the season with hopes beyond just winning the Far West League title. Given his chance, Rague has run with it — and the results have followed. With his 130 rushing yards in last week’s quarterfinal win over La Pine, Rague surpassed the 1,000-yard mark, becoming the first Challenger to do so since Cascade Christian moved to 3A in 2012. He’s run for over 100 yards in six of the 10 games he’s played in, and his 18 rushing touchdowns are the most a Cascade player has had in a single season since Kiegan Schaan had 17 in 2019. “You certainly saw some glimpses with the way that he ended last year,” said Gettman. “He’s taken advantage of the opportunity that he’s been given. Unfortunately, Triston got hurt, but it’s good to have both of them back and I think they play off each other really well. Just their tempo is a little different — you give them one look and then you come in with a kid who runs a little different with a different style.” Maybe the most impressive part of it all? Rague has done all of this on just 87 carries this season. That comes out to an average of 12.5 yards per carry — which, no matter how you slice it, is something that every coach would love to see from his team’s leading rusher. “He’s a long strider,” said Gettman, “but really his gift is that he’s able to give a dead leg and really makes people miss. It’s fun to see him break out on any big run. That’s the exciting part. He’s been really dynamic for us and it makes a big difference in the offense.” Rague was quick to point to the Challengers’ veteran offensive line as a huge reason for all of the success he’s had this season. “I appreciate (the offensive linemen) a bunch,” he said. “I wouldn’t have any of the touchdowns I have without them.” And when he sees his line open up yet another big hole to run through? “My eyes light up a lot — sometimes so much that I don’t see the guys coming,” Rague said with a grin. “I’ve just got to open them because they’re coming out of nowhere. Our downfield blocking, too, I wouldn’t have done this without them.” As Rague’s role with the Challengers’ offense has gotten bigger over the course of the 2022 season, Wallace has been one of the sophomore’s biggest supporters. Gettman describes it as “a great dynamic,” with Wallace putting the team first ahead of personal accolades. “I look up to him a lot,” said Rague of Wallace. “The way he plays, he’s a big leader out there, the way he runs — I try to run more like him, try to be a leader like him. “He just tells me to keep my head up, when things get rough just keep playing, if you don’t get what you want just play through it, stuff like that.” And no matter the amount of touchdowns he scores each week, Rague tries to stay as level-headed as can be. “I try to stay pretty humble and never let things get to me,” said Rague. “Once that happens, that’s when things go bad and downhill when you start to get ahead of yourself. I just got to stay humble and keep working.” But it hasn’t been solely on offense where Rague has made his presence felt. As much as this season has been about him breaking out offensively, the same can be said on defense. From his safety spot, Rague is second on the team in tackles (46) and tied for third in interceptions (3). He also has four tackles for a loss and a sack this season. “I feel like I have grown a lot (on defense) but I can obviously still get better,” said Rague. “Learning to stay on my guy or when I see somebody coming, I trust my team where I don’t have to go and get him and I know my team will get him.” So does that mean Rague prefers scoring a big touchdown or making a big interception? “Big interception,” he said with a grin. “I feel that would be way better — especially if it’s a close game.” Rague said he’s enjoyed how his dual roles can also feed off each other. “If I make a mistake on offense, I know I can go get it back on defense,” said Rague. “Or if I make a mistake on defense, I can go get it back on offense. I feel going both ways gives me more momentum. Usually the anger I get on defense, I can go use it on offense, and it just works both ways.” Reach reporter Danny Penza at 541-776-4469 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @penzatopaper. Cascade Christian's Kameron Rague at practice Thursday in Medford. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune] Cascade Christian's Kameron Rague runs for a touchdown against La Pine during the second quarter at Spiegelberg Stadium last Friday night. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune] Cascade Christian's Kameron Rague runs for a touchdown against La Pine during the second quarter at Spiegelberg Stadium last Friday night. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune] Cascade Christian's Kameron Rague breaks away for a first down against St Mary's at Lithia & Driveway Fields in Medford. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]