Nate great in Cashion win

Cashion coach Lynn Shackelford knew his team’s first two opponents posed significant challenges the Wildcats would need to overcome in order to notch one in the win column.

He was right as the two-time defending Class A champs lost to a pair of Class 2A contenders in Rejoice Christian and Pawhuska.

“The key for us is that Thomas game,” Shackelford said of the Week 2 foe. “If we go to Thomas and get beat, then we’re going to need to re-evaluate some things.”

No need.

Cashion hauled in its first win of the season as it knocked off the Terriers 36-14 on their home field.

The Wildcats ran for 278 yards, were efficient through the air and now prepare to defend their District A-3 title after a week off.

The ground game was powered by Nathan Nabavi, a junior who had 201 yards and four touchdowns.

He put Cashion on the board with a 10yard run in the first quarter.

After Thomas answered with a long touchdown pass in the second quarter, Cashion came back with 21 straight points.

The first was a 32-yard touchdown pass from Chance Acord to Max Brown.

Nabavi’s second TD came from six yards and gave the Wildcats a 22-6 halftime lead.

He added a 2-yard run for a 28-6 lead in the third quarter.

After the home team pulled within two scores in the fourth, Nabavi struck again.

This time he punched it in from 5 yards out to put the hosts away.

Nabavi got 33 touches and averaged 6.1 yards a carry.

As a team, Cashion averaged 5.7 yards on the ground.

Cooper Frazee added 37 yards and Jake Branson 28 yards rushing.

Acord was 15 of 26 for 183 yards and didn’t commit a turnover.

Seth Gilbert had seven catches for 86 yards while Brown’s five receptions netted 75 yards.

Camden Maroney led a defensive unit that allowed just 1.5 yards per carry.

Maroney had nine tackles, three of them for a loss. Preston Kotter and Kai Gilbert had seven tackles apiece.

The Wildcats begin District A-3 games on Sept. 23 when they travel to Minco.

Cashion hasn’t lost a district game since the 2017 season.