Snohomish rolls over Cascade 42-14

By AARON COE

Herald Writer

EVERETT — From the start, it was clear that it was going to be Snohomish’s night.

The Cascade Bruins fumbled away the opening kickoff, and bumbled their way to a 42-14 loss to the Panthers in a Western Conference 4A game.

Snohomish had it all Saturday night at Everett Memorial Stadium. The running game was solid, and though no Panther had more than Joe Plucker’s 67 yards and two TDs, Snohomish gained 188 on the ground. The receivers were open when Snohomish decided to throw.

The Panthers seemed to have some luck on their side as well. Aided by Cascade’s three turnovers in the game’s first six minutes, Snohomish easily compiled a 35-0 halftime lead.

Snohomish, which improved to 6-0 in league play and 7-0 overall, can win the league title outright with victories in its final two games. The Panthers play 2-4 Oak Harbor next week and finish the regular season against the Sehome, the only other undefeated Wesco 4A team.

Cascade, which has lost three-straight league games, dropped to 3-3, 4-3.

Though the offense was dominant, Snohomish quarterback Josh Rodland credited the defense for the victory.

"Our defense carries us, they really do," said Rodland, who completed four of seven passes for 135 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for a TD.

"We work hard to put points on the board, but they’re the ones that keep us in the game and keep the door shut."

The door was never really open for the Bruins.

The Panthers led 7-0 within the first minute after recovering the opening kickoff, and scored off another Bruin turnover to take a 14-0 lead with 7:37 remaining in the first quarter.

Snohomish forced Cascade into a fourth-down play near midfield on the Bruins’ first possession, and Cascade fumbled the snap on an apparent fake punt attempt. Snohomish’s Brian Malsam recovered the loose ball at the Snohomish 46.

Snohomish then ran two plays for no yards, and were flagged for holding. Facing a third-and-19, Eddie Zimmerman got 20 yards behind the Cascade defense and Rodland hit the 6-foot-4 receiver, who jogged the rest of the way for a 54-yard TD. Zimmerman caught only three passes, but they went for 124 yards and two scores.

"I just faked one way, and they went the other," said Zimmerman, who recovered two of Cascade’s four fumbles. "Just playin’ catch."

Rodland said his job was easy, too.

"It’s pretty fun having (Zimmerman) on the receiving end," said Rodland, who scored Snohomish’s first TD on a 23-yard option keeper. "I don’t have to work all that hard. My line does the job, and I just throw the ball up, and he catches it."

Plucker continued the carnage with two TD runs and a 43-yard non-scoring carry. The senior gained 67 yards on only seven first-half rushing attempts.

Rodland completed three of six passes for 102 yards in the first half, including the final blow before halftime. A long completion to Zimmerman, who had two catches for 91 yards in the half, set up Rodland’s 31-yard TD strike to a wide open Andy Heater. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound tight end was used mostly as a blocker Saturday, and the Bruins didn’t seem to notice the senior sneaking toward the end zone.

Rodland and Zimmerman hooked up again to push the lead to 42-0 on Snohomish’s first possession of the second half.

Unaccustomed to being down that far, the Bruins, who rarely throw, never really had a chance to come back.

Lost in the shuffle of a long night for Cascade was the solid outing by Cascade’s Jeff Pugmire.

The senior broke loose for a 71-yard TD run in the third quarter, and finished with 20 carries for 162 yards and both Cascade scores.

"Pugmire showed some character," Snohomish coach Mark Perry said. "Sometimes it can be tough to keep the intensity."

Snohomish142170_42 Cascade 0 0 7 7 _14 Snohomish — Rodland 23 run (Bennion kick) Snohomish — Zimmerman 54 pass from Rodland (Bennion kick) Snohomish — Plucker 18 run (Bennion kick) Snohomish — Plucker 1 run (Bennion kick) Snohomish — Heater 31 pass from Rodland (Bennion kick) Snohomish — Zimmerman 33 pass from Rodland (Bennion kick) Cascade — Pugmire 71 run (McNeley kick) Cascade — Pugmire 1 run (McNeley kick)