Wildcats flex more road muscle

Life continues to be good in Cashion.

The Wildcats dominated fellow Class A top-10 foe Minco 47-0 on the road last Friday night to earn its third blowout victory of the season.

Along the way, quarterback Ben Harman threw for 347 yards and two touchdowns.

Wide receivers Brexten Green (133) and Mason Manning (119) both had 100-yard days.

The rushing game produced more than 200 yards. Yet? “I really didn’t feel like our offense played very well,” said head coach Lynn Shackelford after the pummeling of the ninth-ranked Bulldogs, which was Cashion’s 25th straight win.

Didn’t play very well? That’s the expectations of the Wildcat program, which is ranked either first or second in Class A, depending on the poll.

“We turned the ball over three times and had way too many penalties,” Shackelford said.

“We were able to overcome that stuff, but we have to do batter.”

Indeed, Cashion did have two lost fumbles and Harman threw one pick on the night.

More glaring was Cashion’s 17 penalties for 185 yards.

“We can’t have that,” he said.

But Cashion also had its stifling defense, which only allowed seven first downs and 120 yards of Minco offense.

“They’re (Minco) not quite as explosive as last year’s team, but they’re still really good,” Shackelford said. “Our defense was just up to the task.”

Cashion led 6-0 after a quarter, but exploded for 22 second-quarter points to take total command by halftime.

Caden Harrell, who rushed for 80 yards on 10 touches, had two of his touchdown runs in the half.

The first was from 3 yards in the first quarter and later ran it in from 9 yards out.

Those sandwiched a 21- yard TD connection from Harman to Green. Green also ran for a 17-yard touchdown before the end of the half.

The Wildcats piled on in the third as Harman found Nick Nabavi for a 19-yard connection and Harrell added a 19-yard score.

Jake Branson capped the night with a 26-yard scoring run in the fourth.

In all, Cashion piled up 564 yards.

But the defense may have been the more dominant group.

Minco averaged only 3.0 yards a carry, completed less than 50 percent of its passes and the Wildcats forced four turnovers.

Shackelford said his outside linebackers Jacob Farrow and Mason Manning were especially impressive.

Farrow led the team with 13 tackles while Manning added six. Gavin Phippen was in on seven stops.

Loaded Terriers Visit This Friday

Cashion has little time to boast over the victory.

Business continues to pick up this week when Thomas pays a visit.

The Terriers are ranked either third or fourth in various Class A polls.

The player who gets everyone’s attention is 6-foot-3, 285-pound lineman Aden Kelley.

The three-star prospect has 21 Division I offers and has committed to play at Oklahoma State.

Kelley plays offensive tackle as well as defensive end. He’ll also line up at nose guard, Shackelford said, but isn’t the only Terrier to respect.

“They’re huge up front,” Shackelford said, noting fellow lineman Camden Billy, a junior who’s listed at 6-3, 270.

Coach Bob Ward’s son Jaxon Ward runs the offensive show at quarterback and Shackelford said running back Ethan Hamberlin is a dangerous weapon.

“I think they’re the most complete team as far as throwing it, running it and playing good defense that we’ve seen since we played Minco last season,” Shackelford said.

The Terriers enter the game 1-0 after last week’s 47-26 victory against Alva.

The game will serve as Senior Night for Cashion.

Kickoff is 7 p.m. while pregame ceremonies will begin at 5:30 p.m.