By Nate Beier, Record Sports Editor
It could have been the Thursday night time slot. It could have been key injuries. It could have been the humid conditions. In any case, the conference-opening performance on Sept. 3. was anything but perfect for both Cashton and Brookwood.
Cashton's Eagles managed to hold on, however, and produce a 20-7 win over Brookwood's Falcons to move to 3-0 on the season.
"For all the things that happened in this game, you had to keep digging deep and looking for the next play," said Cashton head coach Jered Hemmersbach.
"We haven't been in this type of game for the first two weeks. This weather - it's humid. It was a hot week of practice. School started. All these factors - it wasn't a clean game with penalties and ball on the ground, but at the end of the day, these guys made enough plays to win a football game. It's hard to win."
Penalties and miscues were self-inflicted issues that challenged each team's ability to notch a win. The two teams combined for 17 total flag throws Thursday. Brookwood was tagged with nine infractions to Cashton's eight. One block-in-the-back penalty cost the Falcons a score early in the third quarter on a play that would have been recorded as a 95-yard pass.
Thursday's game also included a bevy of bad snaps for both teams as the ball was slick from being covered in moisture. That led to six total fumbles between the two teams.
On the ground, Cashton managed 162 total yards to Brookwood's 76. However, the Falcons' passing game produced 194 yards of offense to the Eagles' 89 - 64 of which came on a play in the first drive of the game.
Overall, Brookwood managed to outgain the visiting team with 270 yards to 251, but struggled to finish near the endzone. The Falcons had three second quarter drives that stalled out on account of two fumbles by the running backs and a missed field goal.
Credit goes the Cashton defense for its work in limiting Brookwood's ability to move the ball. Rylan Mlsna's six tackles - three which resulted in a loss of yards - led the Eagles. Landon Laufenberg and Cutler Brueggen combined for nine other stops. Kaden Mickelson and Devin Richardson were each credited with a sack in the contest.
The Eagles' offense settled for opportunistic play on offense, despite looking the part of a dominant team on their first drive.
A pass from Graham Hemmersbach to Landon Laufenberg went 64 yards to put the maroon platoon up 6-0 just 60 seconds into the ball game. But just when it looked like Cashton was off to the races in last week's matchup at Brookwood, it wasn't.
Hemmersbach would leave the game on Brookwood's first drive. Wyatt Howell would step under center the rest of the night. Howell completed a pass at the end of the half to Laufenberg. The 19-yard reception and two-point conversion by Jack Christensen would give the visitors a 14-0 lead.
Christensen would scamper 36 yards to paydirt in the fourth to put Cashton up 20-0.
Brookwood would complete a 62-yard pass from Brennan Mack to Eligh Holmquist that would set up a Julian Cunitz scoring run later in the period, but that was all the Falcons could muster.
Mack finished with 212 passing yards for BHS after going 14-26 through the air. Drew Thurston reeled in five passes for 80 yards while Cunitz had three catches for 18.
Cashton would end with 258 rushing yards led by Christensen with 133. Laufenberg had 26 and Cutler Brueggen 22.
UP NEXT
Cashton will welcome another test on the gridiron Friday when Royall comes to town.
The Panthers are 2-1 on the year and are fresh off a 38-6 win at Necedah. Quarterback Braxton Board threw for 164 yards and 4 touchdowns in Friday's win. On the ground, Royall amassed 156 rushing yards - 121 of which from senior Jett Bender.
Royall's last win against Cashton came two years ago in a Week 9 meeting.
