CHA scores last, holds on to beat Cats 27-25

Nothing is certain for Cashion in 2022. That includes winning close ballgames and securing a spot in the playoffs. Christian Heritage Academy scored with 6:37 remaining on Thursday to take a lead over Cashion. The Crusaders made it stick as they pulled out a 27-25 home win over the defending state champs.

It moved Cashion to 3-4 overall and 1-2 in District A-3. Entering the season, Cashion had won back-to-back state titles and hadn’t lost a district game in over four years.

Now Cashion must win at least one of its final two district games to reach the playoff round.

The Wildcats host Woodward in a non-district game this week.

They travel to Hinton in Week 9 and host Crescent in the final week of the regular season. CHA, meanwhile, moved itself back into the thick of the district title race along with Minco and Crescent. The Crusaders and Cashion traded scores all night. Neither team had a lead bigger than six points and that belonged to Cashion, which scored first on Chance Acord’s 17-yard touchdown throw to Seth Gilbert. Then, for the rest of the night, the teams swapped TDs. Acord added a 5-yard TD run in the first quarter, but Zac Harris threw two TD passes in the first half to help his team to a 14-12 lead.

Max Brown recovered a fumble for a touchdown in the third, but the 18-14 lead was short-lived as Kye Davis’ 8-yard scoring run gave CHA a 20-18 advantage.

AcordandBrownhooked up for a 40-yard touchdown in the third as Cashion took a 25-20 lead into the fourth quarter.

However, a Cashion penalty extended a CHA drive, one that turned into a 10yard go-ahead TD pass from Harris to Nate Jines.

That gave the home team a 27-25 lead, but Cashion still had plenty of time left.

Penalties slowed Cashion’s drive and it ultimately ended with a turnover-ondowns.

After Cashion used its timeouts, Harris ended the game by converting a 3rdand- 4 with a first-down run.

Camden Maroney led the Cashion defense with eight tackles.

Tommy Branson and Jake Branson had seven apiece.

They helped limit the Crusaders to just 49 rushing yards on 30 attempts.

Harris threw for 219 yards and the three scores.

Cashion out-gained CHA by nearly 100 yards.

The Wildcats managed 128 on the ground while Acord accounted for 235 through the air.

Brown caught half of Acord’s 16 completions and had 126 yards.

Seth Gilbert caught three passes for 71 yards.