Cascade Cadets are back at home for the long anticipated game of the season between rival Monrovia Bulldogs for The Battle of I-70 Traveling Trophy. GAME DETAILS 3A Monrovia Bulldogs (5-2, 3-2) vs 2A Cascade Cadets (5-2, 1-2) Series: 56th Meeting Series Meeting: Monrovia leads 33-22 Last Meeting: Cascade won 26-14 Time: 7:00 PM, Friday October 6th, 2023 Location: Cascade Memorial Sports Complex, Cascade High School, Clayton, IN Tickets: https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=54498 Video Link: https://www.ihsaatv.org/cascadecadets/?B=475933 SETTING THE SCENE Friday Night Cascade will be back at home against arch rival, Monrovia Bulldogs, for The Battle of I-70 Traveling Trophy. This will be the 56th meeting between the two schools including the playoffs games with Monrovia leading the series 33-22, but Cascade currently holds the traveling trophy. Monrovia leads the regular season series 27-20. The Battle of I-70 Trophy inaugural season was 2020 in the first battle fought between the Cadets and Bulldogs. Olson and the Bulldogs took the first game 30-6, but Cascade would draw Monrovia in the first round of the IHSAA Sectional. Cadets would win the game and bring the traveling trophy home with a 6-0 victory. Cascade hosted Monrovia at home in 2021. Cascade would be 2-5 and Monrovia 5-2 going into the game. This was the game that took the game to another level. Cascade would be held to less than 100 yards of offense, while the Bulldogs had over 500 yards, however, Cascade showed toughness being down 38-31, but Monrovia would go on a 19 play drive converting on a 3rd and 18 pass play to continue the drive and would eventually extend the lead 46-31 to win the game and lose the trophy. Last season, Cascade traveled to Monrovia looking to get the trophy back. Cascade would lean on SR Liam Farmer and get several key stops and two interceptions to win the game 26-14. Cadets and Bulldogs are 2-2 versus each other since the hiring of Olson and Simmons. The rivalry is stronger than ever between the two schools that are separated by 11 miles. Cascade and Monrovia are run by dominant teams and rely on their big guys up front. The last time these two teams met and both teams held an over .500 record was 42 years ago back in 1981. Cascade came into the game 5-3, while Monrovia came in at 6-2. Cascade would go on to lose that game 27-28. Head to head the two teams are nearly identical. Both are 5-2 with losses to Triton Central and Indianapolis Lutheran. Cascade lost to Triton Central week one 49-13 and Indianapolis Lutheran 49-13. Monrovia lost to Triton Central 55-28 week four and Indianapolis Lutheran 49-14 week 7. Both were victorious over Beech Grove, Cascade winning 35-13 and Monrovia winning 45-18. Cascade's offense averages 40.1 points per game and Monrovia’s averages 39.1, while Cascade’s defense gives up 23.3 points per game and Monrovia’s gives up 28.3. Cascade will use their speed, while Monrovia will lean on their size. With both teams being run heavy, look for possessions to be limited for both teams. At the end of the day, the most physical team up front on both sides and whoever wins the turnover margin will come away with the traveling trophy Friday Night. CADET NOTES Offensively, Cascade is coming off a 365 yards performance in the first half against Owen Valley last week. Cadets are averaging 313 yards on the ground with 32 touchdowns rushing and 59 yards through the air. Defensively, Cadets found their groove last week holding Owen Valley to under 100 yards in the first half. Cascade was able to get their second defensive touchdown of the year after JR Duncan White, scooped and scored a quarterback sack. The defense has forced 13 takeaways on the year with 5 coming on interceptions and 8 on fumble recoveries. SO Brady Trebley leads the offense that averages 372.1 yards per game. Trebley is completing 55% of his passes for 401 yards and 6 touchdowns through sevens weeks on just 42 attempts averaging 17.4 yards per completion. Trebley adds in 3 rushing touchdowns. With his one touchdown through the air against Owen Valley, Trebley is now tied at 4th place all time with 16 passing touchdowns. He looks to be the leader of the no-huddle wing-t attack and will need to be efficient Friday Night. FR Rhyder Williams will serve as the back-up quarterback for the Cadets. Rhyder continues to show consistent improvement at the JV completing 14-21 passes for 301 yards and 3 touchdowns. A plethora of running backs will receive the ball Friday Night. SO Toby Savini leads the backfield with 737 yards, averaging 11.7 yards per rush and 12 touchdowns. With his 3 touchdowns on the ground against Owen Valley, Savini moves into tied for 5th all time in rushing touchdowns. R Damien Appleby added 413 yards, averaging 7.0 yards per rush and 7 touchdowns. SO Dayton Mink 376 yards with 5 touchdowns and SR Caiden Clements has 313 yards for 3 touchdowns. The running back group is averaging 313 yards a game with 32 touchdowns and 7.6 yards per rush on the ground. This group has tallied 2,191 rushing yards on the ground. Wide receivers will continue to add in their hands to the pass attack this year. So JT Roshong leads this group with 2 catches for 50 yards. JR Daemen Mason had 2 catches for 20 yards against North Putnam. Tight ends continue to play a massive role within the wing-t system as blockers and pass catchers. FR Trent Austin has hauled 5 catches for 91 yards and 2 touchdowns averaging 18.3 yards a reception. Four Juniors continue to anchor the offensive line for Cascade. The offensive line averages in weight a whopping average of 200lbs, but is a physical group nonetheless. Last week, 365 yards against Owen Valley in the first half to give the Cadets a 40-0 lead. This group has led the way to a total of 2,605 total yards and 38 touchdowns through seven games. The offense averages 40.1 points per game. The defensive line will look to slow down the Bulldogs rushing attack. JR Duncan White leads the defensive line up front with 21 tackles, 9.0 TFL, 4 sacks and 1 forced fumble. They will need to plug holes, use their speed and play extremely disciplined, gap assignment defense to slow down the offensive rushing attack. The linebacking group will look to anchor the 2nd level defense alignment. SR Jacob Potts and SR Brayden Cartmel have combined for 82 tackles. FR Lucas Farmer leads the team in tackles with 50 total, playing in one less game. This group will look to slow down SR Belcher who averages 124 yards on the ground. Three Seniors lead this group and will look to make tackles and fly to the football Friday Night. The defensive backs group is led by SO Toby Savini and SO JT Roshong. SO Toby Savini comes in 3rd on the team in tackles with 42 total tackles. His career high 16 tackles against North Putnam were the second most on the team. Cadet defense is giving up 256 yards per game, 171 through the air and 81 on the ground. SO Hobson, SO Savini, and SO Roshong are all tied with 1 interception. SCOUTING THE RIVALS Monrovia Bulldogs are led by Andy Olson who is in his 4th year at the helm with a 5-2 record and 20-22 overall in his career. Bulldogs are coming off a 2022 season that saw them finish the year on a five game win streak and an appearance in the Semi-State. Monrovia is a run dominant football team that relies on their offensive line and backfield to march them down the field. SR Belcher leads the team with 872 yards and 13 touchdowns and SR Kindle with 753 yards and 7 touchdowns. On the season Bulldogs have run for 2,601 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns. Defensively, JR Hand leads the team with 44 tackles and SO Followell with 44 tackles with 6.5 coming for a loss. LOOKING AHEAD Cascade will finish out their regular season and senior night at home against 1A #7 South Putnam Eagles next Friday. The IHSAA Sectional Pairing Show is this Sunday at 6:00 PM, Cascade will get their draw and location of their first playoff game as the biggest time of the year arrives. Last year, Cascade went 1-1 in the playoffs beating Greencastle at home and falling to Sullivan on the road to end their season. Cadets will look to make a deeper run for the 2023 season. VARSITY COACHING STAFF HEAD COACH Connor Simmons 4th year at Cascade with an overall record of 17-22 2020: 3-8 (Sectional Semifinals) 2021: 3-7 2022: 6-5 (Sectional Semifinals) 2023: 5-2 ASSISTANT COACHES Troy Edwards (DC - year 1) Matt Minardo (QB - year 4) Alan Trump (WR/DB - year 1) Tony Appleby (OL/DL - year 2) Scott Fisher (WR/DB - year 3) Chris Appleby (OL/DL/JV OC - year 3) JR Dugan (JV HC - year 4) Don Rushton (ILB/JV DC - year 1) Tim Horning (STC/RB - year 4) Connor Horning (RB/Spotter - year 2) Steve Phillips (Sideline Assistant - year 1) Bryson Phillips (Pressbox Assistant - year 2) STUDENT MANAGERS Kylee Clark, Kyler Schmalz, Mara Starika, Payton Mundt, Cameron Rance (Filmer), Aaron Smith (Filmer) MEDICAL STAFF Amanda Miles ADMINISTRATION Jim Diagostino (Superintendent) Stacey Monnett (Assistant Superintendent) Brandt Donovan (Principal) Lori White (Assistant Principal) Scott Stevens (Athletic Director) CASCADE SPORTS Follow CHS Athletics on Facebook (Cascade High School Athletics), Twitter (@Cadethletics), online (cascadecadets.com), our CHS Football Facebook (Cascade High School Football), or our Cascade Cadets Football Website www.cascadecadetsfootball.com for more information on our sports and football program.