Cashton overcomes early deficit against Royall, takes share of SBC title

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Three years after enduring a winless season, the rebirth and rise of Cashton football has reached a status the program hasn’t seen in over 20 years.

The Eagles treated their home crowd to one of the most meaningful wins of this century for the football team, clinching a share of this season’s Scenic Bluffs championship — their first since 1998 — with a 47-8 win over Royall Thursday, October 7 in Cashton.

“We’re going to enjoy where we’re at right now and where we went — these seniors were 0-9 (as freshman),” said Cashton head coach Jered Hemmersbach. “This is just an amazing group of kids with a ‘no quit’ attitude. You’ve got to love who they are.”

Since that 0-9 season back in 2018, the Eagles have steadily risen over the past three seasons.

They improved to a 5-5 record and a playoff berth in 2019, then followed it up during this past spring’s pandemic-caused alternate season with at 6-1 mark. That lone loss was a last-minute 34-28 defeat at the hands of Bangor that robbed the Eagles of a conference title.

There was no postseason to conclude the spring schedule, so Cashton had to make due with its stellar campaign and look forward to this fall for a potentially special season with most of the team returning.

All fall, it looked like rivals Cashton and Bangor were destined to meet in the final week of the regular season with both undefeated in Scenic Bluffs play. However, Onalaska Luther’s stunning upset win over Bangor in Week 7 opened the door for the Eagles to secure a share of the conference crown before then.

Despite a slow start, Cashton did not let the opportunity go to waste.

Neither team scored in the first quarter, but Royall got on the board early in the second on Gunnar Wopat’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Parker Friedl. A successful two-point try gave the upset-minded Panthers (2-6 overall, 0-6 Scenic Bluffs) an 8-0 advantage, but it wouldn’t last for long.

The Eagles (7-1, 5-0) responded with a scoring drive that was capped off by Brady Hemmersbach’s 11-yard touchdown run and chased that shortly after with Colin O’Neil getting loose for a 63-yard touchdown romp.

They tacked on a safety and a 15-yard touchdown pass from Jacob Huntzicker to Noah Hemmersbach to push the lead to 21-8 at halftime.

That breakout second quarter was followed with an even better third, as the Eagles scored four touchdowns during the quarter: a 17-yard pass from Huntzicker to Jack Kleba, a 21-yard pass from Huntzicker to Connor Butzler, a 7-yard run by O’Neil and a 35-yard run courtesy of Brady Hemmersbach.

The dam had burst with Cashton building up a 39-point lead reflected in the final score. All that was left to do was run out the clock so the Eagles could make their share of a conference championship official.

Thursday night’s crowning was special for all involved with the Cashton football program — fans, coaches and players — but perhaps the most so for the seniors who entered the program at a real low point and played an instrumental role in its meteoric rise to this incredible achievement.

“It’s been crazy, especially how fast we did it,” said Cashton senior wide receiver/cornerback Dylan Bayer. “Our freshman year we didn’t have a win. Now, year by year, we’re getting wins. It feels amazing.”

Huntzicker completed 6 of 8 passes for 116 yards and 3 touchdowns. O’Neil led the way out of the backfield with 125 yards and 2 touchdowns. Brett Hemmersbach (69 yards on 9 rushes), Ethan Klinkner (55 yards on 10 rushes), Brady Hemmersbach (46 yards and 2 touchdowns on 4 rushes) and Butzler (40 yards on 3 rushes) all contributed on the ground as well.

Noah Hemmersbach reeled in 2 catches for 48 yards while also picking off Wopat twice on the night.

As for Royall, Bryce Gruen ran for 61 yards on 9 carries and Colin McKittrick caught 4 passes for 79 yards.

For the elder Hemmersbach, overseeing this sort of moment on the sidelines of his alma mater would be a defining accomplishment of his coaching career no matter the circumstance. Doing so while coaching his sons, who all play pivotal roles for this team, just makes it all that much sweeter.

“You work your tail off, you have those dreams and visions — and then you get to do it with your sons,” Hemmersbach said. “I never really thought it would be that way when you’re coaching your sons, but to see them be part of this process, it’s awesome as a father and as a coach. Just so excited for them and the whole football team.”

No matter what happens going forward, the 2021 team has secured its place in the annals of Cashton football history, yet there is still a matter of some unfinished business.

The Eagles close their regular season against archrival Bangor (6-2, 4-1). A win not only ensures the Scenic Bluffs title outright for Cashton — it would also end the Cardinals’ run of seven consecutive conference championships and their seven-game winning streak over the Eagles.

Knowing just how close they came last spring to knocking their rivals off their Scenic Bluffs perch just adds that extra dose of motivation heading into Week 9.

“To come that close last year and with the team we have now — we just want it so bad,” Bayer said. “This is something big to us and something the whole town wants, not just us.”

The two rivals close out the regular season with a titanic clash Friday, October 15 at 7 p.m. in Cashton.

Cashton football, Royall football, Scenic Bluffs football, Jered Hemmersbach, Dylan Bayer

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