Cascade drops Pioneers 19-8 to open season

A touchdown pass during the final seconds of play allowed Warren County Middle School’s football team to avoid a shutout Tuesday night, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Pioneers from starting their season with a loss.

Cascade wideout Ryan Adcock scored a pair of touchdowns, running for a second-quarter score on a long reverse and hauling in a TD catch on a trick play moments later to lead the Champions to a 19-8 victory over the Pioneers.

A scoreless first quarter saw the Pioneers drive to the 15-yard line before turning the ball over on downs, followed by a three-and-out drive by Cascade. Early in the second another WCMS drive stalled, with the Champions taking over on downs again at their own 49-yard line.

On third and 3 from the 44, however, Cascade ran a reverse to Adcock, who streaked around the left side of the line, avoided two late tackles and found the end zone for an early 6-0 lead.

WCMS went three-and-out on its next drive, and the Pioneers’ punt attempt was blocked, allowing the Champions to take over in WCMS territory. Cascade ran a halfback pass on second and 16, with Blake England finding a wide-open Adcock for a 45-yard scoring strike.

The half ended with the Champions on top 12-0, and the score remained unchanged through a third quarter marred by turnovers by both teams, including two lost Pioneer fumbles and an interception by Warren County’s Hunter Daniel.

Cascade drove deep into WCMS territory before the period ended, however, and QB Jared Carkuff plunged into the end zone from 12 yards out on his team’s first play of the fourth quarter.

WCMS got the ball with 1:35 to play in the fourth for what would prove to be its final drive of the evening, and a 17-yard reverse run by Alex Hillis as well as a 13-yard pass from Connor Dixon to Daniel put the Pioneers within striking distance. Dixon fired another swing pass to Daniel with seven ticks remaining, giving the Pioneers their first points of the fall, and tackle Damon Grove lined up at fullback for the conversion, bulling his way in for the game’s final points.

Warren County’s onside kick was successful, and recovered by Garrison Holmes, but the final horn sounded just as the play came to an end, sending the Champions home with their first victory of the year.

Jordan Dennis finished with 11 carries for 51 yards to help lead the Pioneer offense, while Hillis had 36 yards on three attempts. Dixon completed three of his eight passes, all of which came on the final scoring drive.

WCMS hits the road Tuesday, taking on Franklin County North.