CASHMERE — In what has become known as the Battle for the Bronze Shoe, the Cashmere Bulldogs defeated the Chelan Mountain Goats 61-7 on Thursday night, marking their 10th straight victory in this rivalry game and improving their season record to 7-1.
The fifth-ranked Bulldogs in the WIAA 1A State RPI Rankings fell behind early when Chelan's Oliver Reed connected on a 40-yard touchdown pass with 5:29 remaining in the first quarter. However, that would prove to be Chelan's only score of the night, as Tom McDevitt's defensive play turned the tide with the first of his two interceptions, positioning the Bulldogs at Chelan's 47-yard line.
Junior quarterback Rylan Hatmaker led the Bulldogs' offense, completing 13 of 20 passes for 192 yards and five touchdowns. After Chelan's early score, Hatmaker found McDevitt for a 29-yard touchdown strike to tie the game at 7-7. McDevitt, who finished with three catches for 86 yards and two touchdowns, continued his stellar season on defense, bringing his interception total to eight for the year.
The Bulldogs' offense erupted in the second quarter, putting up 34 unanswered points. Isaac Zavala initiated the scoring run with a 3-yard touchdown run, followed by Grey Jacobson's 20-yard rushing touchdown. Hatmaker maintained the momentum, connecting with Zavala (two catches, 45 yards) for a 19-yard score and finding Jacobson for another 19-yard touchdown reception. Just before halftime, McDevitt caught his second touchdown of the night on a 40-yard pass from Hatmaker, pushing the score to 41-7.
The second half showcased more of Cashmere's offensive depth as Hatmaker threw his fifth touchdown pass to junior Logan Spies, who totaled five receptions for 58 yards. Donald Flick contributed a 9-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter, and freshman Jacoby Tait sealed the victory with a 20-yard touchdown run in the final minutes.
Cashmere's ground attack demonstrated remarkable depth with 11 different ball carriers combining for 182 yards on 23 carries. Defensively, the Bulldogs stifled Chelan's offense, holding them to just 110 total yards, including a mere 23 rushing yards on 22 attempts. The defensive effort highlighted Cashmere's season-long prowess, as the team has now forced 24 takeaways while committing only eight turnovers, maintaining an impressive +16 turnover margin.
Place kicker Edgar Reyna was consistent throughout the night, successfully converting seven of eight extra point attempts.
The victory further solidified Cashmere's #5 ranking in the WIAA 1A State RPI Rankings. The Bulldogs will conclude their regular season on Friday at Naches Valley in their final SCAC contest, looking to build on their 7-1 record.
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