Cache defense shines in 7-0 upset of No. 7 Clinton

Cache came up with one of the most shocking upsets of the season, beating No. 7-ranked Clinton, 7-0, Friday at Ulrich Stadium.

The Bulldogs started the game on defense, shutting down the Red Tornadoes on a five-play drive and getting a good return to the Clinton 36-yard-line.

From there the Bulldogs worked the ball to the 29 where they faced a 4th-and-3. On third down quarterback Tyler Harbin took a shot on a tender ankle and had to come out of the game. After a Cache timeout to give backup QB Canden Hance a few snaps on the sideline the offense went back on the field.

Head Coach Farron Griffin and his offensive coaches decided to give Josiah Thomas a chance on the jet sweep and he bolted 29 yards to score with 9:17 left in the first quarter. Ben Angiel booted the PAT and that was the end of the scoring.

“That little drive was pretty big for us,” Coach Griffin said. “Tyler has been nursing that ankle since the Elk City game and he tweaked it there and we had to call time to get Canden some practice snaps. Then our line opened a good hole and we got the score.”

After that it was all the Cache defense.

“It was a great defensive effort,” Griffin added. “What people don’t know is that at the start of the season we were so inexperienced at so many key positions. But we could see each week the defense making great improvement.

“This week we tried to instill confidence in them and sold them on the fact that Clinton would take us lightly. The kids bought into those thoughts and played their hearts out.”

The visitors had two scoring chances but both faltered under the defensive pressure of the Bulldogs.

“In the first quarter they got pretty deep in our territory and missed a field goal,” the coach said. “Then they put good drive together and earned a first down at our 8-yard-line. That’s when this bunch came up with a huge goal-line stand. We bent a couple of times but never broke.”

The team was gassed after the game.

“Coming off the field I saw Gunner Tate and Christian Bennett and they were tired and exhausted; they all were,” Griffin added. “These kids had a great deal of desire.”

While the win over the Red Tornadoes was a great thing for the confidence of the team, it still didn’t clinch a playoff berth.

“We go to Chickasha next week and we must win to make the playoffs,” he said. “It was a great morale victory for us but in the end it didn’t really have a meaning for either team. We still must beat Chickasha to get into the playoffs.”

Elsewhere around Southwest Oklahoma, Lawton High was beaten 63-32 by Putnam City North, however, the Wolverines are still in contention to make the playoffs if they can beat OC Capitol Hill next week.

Eisenhower lost a 51-6 setback to Guthrie Thursday, thus ending the Eagles’ playoff hopes. They will visit OKC Southeast in their finale.

The other two area 5A clubs, Altus and Duncan, both lost Friday. Ardmore edged the Bulldogs, 21-13, while El Reno beat Duncan, 42-28. Altus faces a tough closing game next week at El Reno while Duncan visits Ardmore. The Bulldogs and Demons are out of the playoff picture.

The area’s two Class 3A clubs both lost this week with Marlow getting edged by Plainview, 24-21, while Anadarko lost to powerful Metro Christian, 42-6. Anadarko visits Kingfisher this week while Marlow has to go to battle No. 1 Heritage Hall.

Both 2A area teams lost as well this week as Comanche lost 62-0 to No. 1 Washington and Lindsay beat Frederick, 26-6. Frederick will host Community Christian this week needing a win to reach the playoffs. Comanche closes its season at home against Purcell, but the Indians are out of playoff consideration.

Apache clinched the District A-2 title this week with a 39-0 victory over Empire. The Warriors close the regular season at Carnegie.

There was a big upset in that district as Hobart upset Walters, 20-18, however, the Blue Devils host winless Cordell in their regular-season finale and will make the playoffs with a win.

Also, in A-2, Mangum beat Carnegie, 25-22, leaving the Tigers in the playoffs while the Wildcats will end their season after facing Apache.

In eight-man Class B action, Wilson handed Cyril a 42-36, setback but the Pirates can clinch a playoff berth by beating Waurika this week. Also, in Class B, Velma-Alma routed Central High, 56-6.

In Class C, Tipton had no trouble with Corn Bible, rolling to a 48-0, victory that puts the Tigers at 6-0 in district and 9-0 overall. They have clinched the district title regardless of what happens when they host Temple in their regular-season finale.

And speaking of Temple, the Tigers got their first win of the season by beating Bray-Doyle, 32-26. Temple didn’t have enough players to field a team last season but regrouped and have played the full season and that win had to give them a boost of confidence.

Mt. View-Gotebo clinched a playoff berth by beating Geary, 46-40. The Tigers face Grandfield in their final game and have clinched a playoff berth regardless. Grandfield lost to Ryan, 42-0, Friday.