Titans rally to beat Cascade

DRUMMOND – It was the biggest game of the season for the Flint Creek Titans.

With more than half the season gone and a 2-3 record in the South Central Conference, the Titans needed wins in each of their final four games to have a shot at the postseason. They got the first Friday night as they rallied from a 10-point deficit and a key injury to beat visiting Cascade 50-26.

As the game opened it looked like it might be smooth sailing for Flint Creek, as Kadin Graveley returned the ball 42 yards on the opening kickoff to set up his offense on the Badger 21. On their first play from scrimmage Logan Hauptman took the ball in for a score. Graveley added the point after run and the locals were up 8-0 with just 17 seconds off the clock.

And that lead held for over 11 minutes until Cascade finally punched the ball over the goal line on a 14-yard pass from Ian McKamey to Izaak Munski. They failed on the PAT and trailed 8-6.

Once the Badgers got a taste of the end zone they wanted more, and running back Caiden Sekuterski gave it to them. He added scoring runs of 24 and 23 yards on Cascade’s next two possessions to give the visitors an 18-8 lead.

A noticeable pall fell over the Flint Creek crowd as they could feel any chance of the playoffs slipping away. But the Titans drove the ball down to the Badger six and were poised to score when Graveley, the team’s starting quarterback went down with an apparent knee injury. He was helped from the field and did not return to the game.

“If it happens, it happens,” said Hauptman of his response to Graveley’s injury. “Jake (Daunhuer) came in and got me the ball where I could handle it.” The junior finished with a team high 198 yards and four touchdowns on 22 carries.

Daunhuer, a freshman with no real varsity experience, was thrown into the fray, It only took him one play to figure out what to do – hand it to Hauptman. The junior running back powered his way into the end zone for six more point and the PAT.

Down two, Hauptman kicked off for the locals and flubbed it toward the Badger sidelines. The unintentional onsides kick ended up in the hands of senior lineman Bodie Bradshaw on the Cascade 31 and marked a decided change in the momentum. Hauptman took the handoff from Daunhuer on the next play, cutting back against the grain and in for the score. He added another PAT and Flint Creek went into the locker room at halftime up 24-18.

After a strong showing in the first half, Cascade’s offense went eerily silent in the second, except for a late TD in the fourth between reserve players. It appeared the Titans had made some adjustments, but according to Defensive Coordinator Paul Kulaski it was just about getting back to their game plan.

”We really didn’t need to do a lot different,” Kulaski said after the game. “We had our alignments and assignments that we worked on this week, and we just went in at halftime and went over it and ran what we were supposed to from the get go.”

When asked about the turnovers that the Titans were able to force from Cascade on defense, Kulaski directed it right back to the game plan.

“We play tough that way. We just try to stop the run so they’re forced to pass and we just try to pick ‘em.”

Hauptman added a 49-yard scoring run in the third, with Austin Knoeller and Jake Daunhuer combining for three more in the fourth.

Knoeller’s first score was of note as he was met midway on his 11-yard run by Badger lineman Brent Ethridge, a 6’5 260 lbs. senior, who picked him up and was apparently going to body slam him to the turf. Instead, he spun Knoeller around and released him mid-air.

“I just kept running until I heard a whistle,” laughed Knoeller of the play. “I just kept running.”

Knoeller carried the ball just eight times, producing 45 yards and two scores.

Daunhuer showed well in his first major varsity role, going 5-for-8 for 54 yards while filling in for Graveley at QB.

Defensively the Titans were all over the field, led by freshman Wyatt Daniels with 14 total stops (10 solo, 4 assists), one tackle for loss and a fumble recovery.

Knoeller had seven solo and 5 assisted tackles and an interception, with Chance Dunkerson adding four solos stops and seven assists and a fumble recovery. Skyler Dahl had an interception as well.

Flint Creek will face Sheridan next week in Philipsburg in Week 7 of the season. Like they did against Cascade, they must win to keep their playoff hopes alive.

SCORING

Cascade – 6/12/0/8 – 26

Flint Creek – 8/16/6/20 – 50

FIRST QUARTER

11:43 FC Hauptman 21 yd run TD. Graveley run.

0:48 CA McKamey 14 yd pass to Munski TD. Pass failed.

SECOND QUARTER

8:02 CA Sekuterski 24 yd run TD. Run failed.

5:37 CA Sekuterski 23 yd run TD. Run failed.

3:15 FC Hauptman 6 yd run TD. Hauptman run.

3:05 FC Hauptman 31 yd run TD, Hauptman run.

THIRD QUARTER