Cascade Runs Past Chewelah

The temptation to wonder “what if” lodged in the minds of every Chewelah booster after Saturday afternoon’s 35-18 loss.

What if Chewelah had scored and tied the game after reaching the Cascade 14-yard line with 33 seconds left in the first half?

What if the Cougars hadn’t thrown an interception after recovering a Cascade fumble in the third quarter?

And what if Chewelah had made its extra points? Then a Cougars touchdown midway through the fourth quarter would have put them down seven instead of 10, negating an ensuing onsides kick that didn’t work.

For each Chewelah “coulda been,” however, were reasons why it’s the second-ranked Kodiaks of Leavenworth (12-0) who are instead headed to Saturday’s Gridiron Classic in the Tacoma Dome.

Look no further than the vaunted running games for an explanation. Cascade’s outgained Chewelah’s 325-121 and ran for all five scores during the WIAA/U.S. Bank State A semifinal at Lions Field.

Senior fullback Brian Koch led the way with 120 yards, while senior Ryan Hansen guided an efficient option offense and scored twice.

“They’re a high-powered offense,” said first-year coach Roy Albertson . “Nobody’s been able to stop them this year.”The same had been said about the 1995 Cougars, who had never scored less than 28 points in a game, had never given up more than 27 and had held playoff opponents to less than a TD per game.

“That was a team (Chewelah) that was scoring 40 points per game on offense,” said elated Kokiaks coach Jack McMillan. “They got 18 today and only 12 were on offense.”

The Kodiaks slowed Chewelah all-league runners Greg Belzer (51 yards) and Cody Katzer (89).

Matters looked hopeless for Chewelah from the start. Cascade scored on its first two possessions for a 13-0 lead and minutes later Hansen intercepted fellow quarterback Dan Macrae. Through one quarter, the Kodiaks had seven first downs to Chewelah’s none.

“When we were up 13-0, everyone was talking and saying we can’t let up on these guys,” Hansen said.

The first-down numbers were exactly reversed in the second quarter. The Cougars stopped banging the middle and began chewing up yardage on pitches outside. Katzer gained 55 yards during an 86-yard scoring drive that Belzer capped with a 22-yard quick opener.

After a missed extra point, Chewelah found itself in position for a tie when tailback Carl Haberberger lost a fumble on the Cascade 42. An offensive pass interference call stopped the Cougars’ momentum.

“We had played such a very good second quarter, that would have been a real big plus for us to score,” Albertson said.

Haberberger lost another fumble on Cascade’s opening possession of the second half, but he could atone because Macrae threw another interception. Haberberger, held to 16 yards in the first half, had a net 72 in the second half and capped the game with a 21-yard TD run.

The Cougars made it interesting on Katzer’s 87-yard kickoff return for TD late in the third quarter, but failed on a two-point attempt and trailed 21-12.

A Cascade fourth-and-4 reverse play turned into a 42-yard TD for Ty McGregor on his lone carry of the day. Chewelah needed two scores and a pair of two-pointers to tie, but followed Macrae’s 1-yard TD sneak with a bothched conversion attempt.

The Cougars, trailing 28-18, failed on an onsides try. Cascade stalled and punted, but a Chewelah clipping call before change of possession gave the ball back to the Kodiaks for Haberberger’s TD.

Cascade 35, Chewelah 18

Cascade 7 6 8 14 - 35

Chewelah 0 6 6 6 - 18

Cas-Hansen 21 run (Ballew kick)

Cas-Koch 8 run (kick failed)

Chew-Belzer 22 run (kick failed)

Cas-Hansen 2 run (Haberberger run)

Chew-Katzer 87 kickoff return (pass failed)

Cas-McGregor 42 run (Ballew kick)

Chew-Macrae 1 run (run failed)

Cas-Haberberger 21 run (Ballew kick) , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo