Move aside, big brother
Harman has record-setting passing night in Cashion’s shutout win
CASHION QB Ben Harman threw for 437 yards and five TDs in his team’s second-round win. The passing yardage is a school playoff record and 12th most ever in Oklahoma. [Photo by Brad Stone/www.bestone.shootproof.com]
Ben Harman had one of the best passing performances by a quarterback in playoff history as Cashion cruised into the next round of the Class A playoffs.
Harman threw for 437 yards and five touchdowns in Cashion’s 42-0 home win over Elmore City-Pernell.
The passing total is the 12th most in an Oklahoma playoff game. It surpassed the 436 yards thrown by Metro Christian’s Andrew Hearon in 2010.
It also broke Cashion’s playoff passing record. Harman’s older brother, Matt, threw for 399 yards in 2013.
The younger Harman’s night was set up by Elmore defensive
“They loaded up the box and dared us to throw it,” Cashion coach Lynn Shackelford said.
“Well, we’ve got a quarterback who can throw it and lots of guys who can catch it.”
The Wildcats had two 100-plus-yard receivers and nearly a third.
Mason Manning caught five passes for 182 yards and three of the touchdowns.
He had a 65-yard score to help make it 14-0 in the first quarter, a 78-yardbomb for a 28-0 halftime lead and then a 23-yard TD for the game’s final points in the third quarter.
Brexten Green hauled in another eight passes for 142 yards. He caught a 22-yard touchdown in the third.
Nick Nabavi’s three catches netted 92 yards, which included a 62-yarder.
Harman’s other TD was a 7-yard strike to Landon LaGasse in the second.
In all, Harman completed 19 of 23 attempts while Cashion ran it just 15 times.
It’s not the first time teams have “dared” Cashion to throw it.
“We’ll take what they give us,” Shackelford said. “I’m not sure what the best way to defend us is, but if I figure it out, I’m not telling.”
Caden Harrell got six of Cashion’s carries for 39 yards. He scored Cashion’s first TD of the game from 5 yards out.
The Wildcats scored two touchdowns in each of the first three quarters before going on cruise control.
One unit that didn’t let up was the defense.
Cashion got its fourth shutout of the season in allowing only 140 total yards.
The run defense limited the Badgers to 71 yards on 47 attempts, just 1.5 yards per try.
Jacob Farrow was a little bit of everywhere with 12 tackles, including four for a loss.
Justice Broadbent had nine tackles while Nabavi and Harrell added six apiece.
The Wildcats are giving up just 7.5 points a game this season and improved to 12-0.
They’ll host a 7-3 Hooker squad in Friday’s third round.
“They’re pretty good,” Shackelford said of the Bulldogs, who have yet to touch the field in the playoffs.
Hooker received a bye in each of the first two rounds. It opened the season with losses to two Texas squads and the only defeat since was 17-14 to Thomas on Oct. 9. Cashion defeated Thomas 28-7 early this season.