Team Preview:
Written By: Sven Alskog

Residing within the always strong 1AD2 Long Pin Conference can present plenty of challenges, along with opportunities to put yourself up against some of the top competition in the state annually.

For Cascade, the previous four seasons yielded just five total wins, showing just how tough the conference slate can be for a program in the process of building itself back up.

New head coach Bob Haworth takes over and will try to bring some success back onto the football field. The Ramblers have not won four or more games since 2009.

One major bright spot is that a young team that took some lumps during the 2017 campaign will have much more varsity experience as a result this season.

Quarterback Cody Moosman is back along with the Littlejohn’s, Justin and Jared, and Skyler Kober set to block up front for him and Michael Onaindia and Clayton Fox two of the primary playmakers.

Last season the Ramblers ran the offense out of the power I. With the new coach it is yet to be seen what they will come out with this year, but the hope is to become more explosive to put up more points.

Cascade scored just 42 points over the course of last season. To get back on the win column for the first time since September 23 of 2016, the offense will have to improve dramatically over that 7 point per game average.

It was a tough year for the team on the defensive side of the ball as well, allowing over 55 points per game.

Caleb Sherbondy at defensive line and Bodie Byrd in the defensive backfield should be two of the key contributors for the Ramblers this season against some high-powered offensive attacks in the Long Pin.

With two-way lineman Hunter Moosman and his 6-foot-2-inch and 230 pound frame graduated, finding someone to step in and fill those holes will be a large focus, especially with Cascade having a size disadvantage most weeks.

From last year’s roster, Onaindia is the only returning player listed over 200 pounds.

While they may not be the biggest team or have the outside expectations built up yet of a program like Salmon River or Tri-Valley, the new coach likes the future prospects of the group he has together.

“I am mostly excited just to see what the guys are capable of. We have had some workouts and I have watched the film from last year. I see a huge upside that we should be able to bring out,” said Haworth.

Cascade’s first game comes on the road at an improving Idaho City squad.