After a sectional-round exit last year following an undefeated regular season , the goal for the Cadets in year six under Connor Simmons was simple: win a sectional. 

Yet, as the clock hit zero on the 3A state championship game, Cascade saw a 15-0 state championship season come to fruition instead, claiming the first title in school history — pushing past Fort Wayne Bishop Luers 29-14. 

“This is a dream come true,” Simmons said. “Not for myself, but for the players … To take this program from 3-8 to a perfect season in six years, that’s hard to do. There [are] so many hands involved and so many people that I need to thank.” 

From the opening kickoff, the Cadets controlled this one with ease. Deploying their explosive no-huddle, wing-t offense, Cascade was able to march down the field with ease to set up a Dayton Mink touchdown to go up 6-0. 

After consecutive defensive stops, the Monon Athletic champs were up 19-0 entering the second quarter. 

“I don’t think there has been a game where we didn’t score right off the bat,” Mink said. “It really pushes us, it’s our moementum.”

A resilient team all year, Luers would not go down without a fight. The Knights leaned on their running backs — sophomores TJ Epperson and Brandon Gaither Jr. — to help set up a rushing score for Epperson in the second quarter. 

With both teams exchanging redzone fumbles, it was a 59-yard pitch-and-catch from Brady Trebley to Luke Farmer in the waning seconds of the first half to set up a 21-yard field goal for Brogan Trump. 

Following three empty possessions to start the second half, it was clear both teams had adjusted well to one another. 

Both defenses seemed a step ahead at times, while the Cascade offense looked like a shell of itself. 

“I thought the momentum was high, but we fumbled the ball [in the redzone] and let Luers back in the game,” Simmons said. “Our kids stepped up. They let it go and just [moved] to the next play.” 

Starting the final period of action, Cascade quickly punted it away to Bishop Luers. In turn, setting up a quick scoring drive by the Knights, propelled by a 59-yard reception and a two-yard scoring plunge from Epperson. 

Now, with a chance to put the game away, the Cadets utilized a big fourth-down conversion before going up two scores with a bruising score from Mink for his second of the night. 

Mink finished with 119 yards and two touchdowns on 25 attempts while Gaither and Epperson combined for 193 yards. 

“Our offense doesn’t wear down,” Mink said. “We just keep hitting and hitting and hitting. Eventually, that just deteriorates defenses.”