Late TD in regulation, extra point in OT lead Cache past OKC John Marshall, 37-36

Bulldogs keep playoff hopes alive with dramatic come-from-behind win

By Glen Brockenbush 

Photo courtesy of the Cache Bulldog Football Twitter page

CACHE - As games often do, Thursday’s contest between Cache and Oklahoma City John Marshall came down to a kicker.

After stopping John Marshall’s two-point attempt in overtime, Cache needed only a touchdown and a Shane Feeback extra point, both of which the Bulldogs received in a 37-36 overtime win Thursday night at Ulrich Stadium.

The Bulldogs held a 13-0 lead at halftime but were outscored 30-9 in the second half before a late touchdown and conversion forced overtime.

“We made some adjustments at halftime and (John Marshall) responded to those adjustments, so I went right back to the original plan we had over the weekend,” Cache coach Faron Griffin said.

John Marshall needed just two plays to score in overtime. But on the two-point conversion attempt, Makel Jackson was stopped just short by the Cache defense.

After two short gains, Cache quarterback Tyler Harbin got the Bulldogs down to the 2-yard line. A penalty on the Bears got the ball to the 1, where Harbin scored on a QB sneak.

Then on the conversion attempt, after the Bears attempted to ice Feeback, the senior drilled the PAT.

“I’ve always said having a kicker is a weapon. People don’t miss special teams players until they don’t have them,” Griffin said. “Shane is valuable and someone you know is gonna put it through late.”

On the game's first play from scrimmage, Cache’s Conner Muldowney punched the ball out of the arms of the Bears’ Dorien Middleton, and the fumble was recovered by the Bulldogs’ Kenny Wermey.

The Bulldogs then drove down to the 1-yard line before a procedure penalty and a missed receiver wide open in the end zone forced Cache to settle for just a field goal.

After a John Marshall punt, the Bulldogs drove down the field and capped the drive with a 37-yard touchdown run by Muldowney for a touchdown to go up 10-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Cache appeared to be in great position to increase its lead when Brayden Castro intercepted a Middleton pass, but Shaun Barry fumbled inside the JMHS 5-yard line.

A field goal just before halftime made it 13-0 Bulldogs at the break.

The Bears got a touchdown back through Makel Jackson. But a John Marshall fumble inside its own 5-yard line was recovered by Cache about halfway through the third quarter, and on Cache’s next play, Brayden Castro strolled in for a touchdown.

A failed two-point conversion attempt made it 19-7, Bulldogs.

But on JM’s next possession, Kylin Drennan took a screen pass from Middleton and took it 56 yards to the house. The Bears converted the two-pointer to cut the Cache lead to 19-14.

John Marshall went on a drive in the fourth that ended with a short Middleton touchdown and two-pointer that gave the Bears a 22-19 lead.

A field goal from Feeback tied the game. But with less than four minutes left, Middleton took off down the sidelines for a 48-yard score. The two-point conversion made it 30-22.

Cache moved the ball deep into Bear territory, with a personal foul on John Marshall putting the Bulldogs within the 15. With 40 seconds left, Tyler Harbin found a wide-open Castro for a touchdown.

And on the conversion attempt, Castro received the ball on the end-around and got into the end zone to tie it back up.

“I’ve stuck with him because I know what his ability is and I could see him gaining confidence throughout the night,” Griffin said. “He really studies hard and works hard and I was happy for him to make some of the plays he made (Thursday).”

Cache (3-5, 2-2 in District 4A-1) heads to Clinton next week while John Marshall (2-6, 1-3) hosts Weatherford.