McGrath ignites Cascade
Published 11:44 pm Friday, September 12, 2008
EVERETT — Chris McGrath took a year off from football last season.
Boy, are the Cascade Bruins glad he’s back.
McGrath, a junior known mainly for his basketball prowess, had a huge impact on the gridiron Friday in Cascade High School’s 27-15 victory against the Kamiak Knights at Everett Memorial Stadium.
The speedy split end/defensive back fired up his squad by returning the game-opening kickoff for a touchdown, and he helped the Bruins seal their Western Conference South Division triumph with a 54-yard TD reception in the fourth quarter.
McGrath, a 6-foot-2, 183-pounder, touched the ball twice in the game. Both times he found the end zone.
“I think what it tells me is I better get the ball in his hands a little bit more,” Cascade head coach Jake Huizinga said.
Kamiak (0-1 Wesco South, 0-2 overall) cut the deficit to 20-15 with 9 minutes, 48 seconds remaining. Caleb Trudgeon caught a 5-yard TD pass from Knights quarterback Sam Ruppel.
But on its next possession Cascade got the ball back in McGrath’s hands and padded its lead.
Streaking along the left hash, McGrath looked back for a pass from Cascade quarterback Aaron Frye. Kamiak defender Nate Regan jumped and tipped the ball. It fell into the hands of McGrath, who easily scored and once again ignited Cascade (1-0, 2-0).
“The tip right there, it could have gone either way. We get the ball back, down five. But that’s high school football,” Kamiak head coach Dan Mack said.
Cascade’s defense was tough on Kamiak most of the night. The Bruins recovered two fumbles and LaQuondis Bruce intercepted a pass three plays after McGrath’s second TD.
Besides McGrath, Cascade’s offensive standouts were Frye, who passed for two TDs and ran for one score, and Jordan Duffy (six receptions, 56 yards, one TD).
Thanks to a stunning game-opening special teams play and a 12-play second-quarter scoring drive, Cascade led 13-3 by halftime.
McGrath sparked Cascade early by returning a kickoff 81 yards for a TD. After Kamiak was penalized for a false start on its game-opening kick, McGrath caught the next one and exploded through a massive opening along the right hash. He made a quick cutback to elude kicker Kyle Watts and zoomed untouched into the end zone.
“That just builds momentum. That brought momentum from the first second of the game,” said Duffy.
Kamiak cut it to 7-3 on Watts’s 33-yard field goal later in the first quarter. But Cascade, which struggled to get its offense going, answered with a long scoring drive.
On fourth-and-2, Duffy caught a pass in the right corner from Frye, who rolled toward the sideline before tossing an accurate throw.
Cascade prevailed despite accumulating 12 penalties for 67 yards.
Ruppel, Kamiak’s QB, completed his first six passes and finished 14-for-21 for 148 yards with one TD and one interception. His most frequent target was Tyler Lambert (five receptions, 54 yards).
Mack wasn’t happy about his players’ mistakes but praised their effort.
“Our kids fought hard. They’re getting better. We’re a young team,” he said.
Frye, Cascade’s multi-dimensional QB, had another big game. He tallied 159 passing yards and led the Bruins with 48 rushing yards.
At Everett Memorial Stadium
Kamiak3066—15
Cascade7677—27
Cascade — McGrath 81 kickoff return (Wiedmer kick)
Kamiak — FG Watts 33
Cascade — J. Duffy 2 pass from Frye (pass failed)
Kamiak — Drury 82 kickoff return (kick blocked)
Cascade — Frye 1 run (Wiedmer kick)
Kamiak — Trudgeon 5 pass from Ruppel (pass failed)
Cascade — McGrath 54 pass from Frye (Wiedmer kick)
Records — Kamiak 0-1 in division, 0-2 overall. Cascade 1-0, 2-0.
Writer Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam.
