Cadets too much for Rams

Ike’s Cassel passes for 325 yards, three scores ||

YAKIMA, Wash. — They didn’t make as many plays as they wanted to Friday night, or even as many as they could have made. But ultimately, Eisenhower’s Cadets made plenty.

“We didn’t play to our potential, not even close,” quarterback Kolney Cassel said after Ike overran West Valley 44-13 in a penalty-littered nonleague matchup at Clasen Field. “But we did everything we needed to, and more.”

Eisenhower Cadets' Trevon Harris runs away from West Valley Rams defenders on his way to a first down on Sept. 9, 2011. Trevon scored three touchdowns in the first half against the Rams. (TJ Mullinax/Yakima Herald-Republic)

Especially Cassel, Ike’s strong-armed junior quarterback and an explosive corps of receivers as the Cadets improved to 2-0, having scored 98 points in their victories.

Cassel hit 21 of 36 throws for 325 yards and three scores. Ten of his completions went to Denzel Jones, covering 192 yards and accounting for one TD.

The other two Cassel scoring strikes went to Ridge Harmon on passes of 20 and 2 yards, and Trevon Harris, granted a fifth year of eligibility by the WIAA, scored on runs of 1 and 19 yards.

Justin Ferrari scored from 12 yards out for West Valley (1-1), which had a golden opportunity to cut what was once a 28-0 Eisenhower lead in half just before intermission.

But on the Rams’ first possession after Ferrari’s score, which came on a blocked punt that gave West Valley the ball on the Ike 35 yard line, Max King’s fourth-and-goal pass from the 2 fell incomplete.

WV wouldn’t score again until Braydon Shields stripped the ball from an Ike rusher and returned it 97 yards in the waning seconds.

And while Harris provided a capable complement to the Cadets air game, carrying 11 times for 55 yards, Cassel spread the wealth.

He completed passes to seven different receivers, with sophomore Harmon grabbing five for 83 yards.

“I trust all my receivers,” Cassel said. “Hey, I’m a transfer from West Valley so this is a very big game for me. And this year we did a lot better job than last year.”

Last season at Zaepfel Stadium, West Valley took Ike to the wire before the Cadets prevailed, 34-29.

Ike begins CBBN 4A play next Friday night at home against Chiawana while the Rams start their CBBN 3A schedule at home against Hanford.

Click here for scoring summary and statistics.