Cashmere Bulldogs come up inches short in 1A title game, fall to Royal 21–20

SEATTLE — Cashmere came within inches of ending one of the most dominant runs in Washington high school football history, falling 21 to 20 to Royal in the Class 1A state championship Friday at Husky Stadium.

The Bulldogs drove 92 yards in the closing minutes and scored with less than a minute to play, setting up a potential game-winning two-point conversion. Cashmere lined up in a Wildcat formation with senior receiver Isaac Zavala taking the snap. Zavala rolled left under pressure, pivoted and threw toward senior receiver Logan Spies breaking across the back of the end zone. The pass sailed just wide of Spies’ fingertips, preserving Royal’s sixth consecutive state title.

Royal recovered the onside kick that followed and ran out the final seconds.

Early momentum and first-half swings

Royal opened the scoring late in the first quarter when quarterback Grant Wardenaar completed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Bronson Scroggins. Anderson Brown’s extra point gave the Knights a 7 to 0 lead.

Cashmere answered early in the second quarter. Senior quarterback Rylan Hatmaker connected with junior tight end David Odenrider for a 13-yard touchdown. The Bulldogs went for a two-point conversion, but junior Braylon Rubio was ruled short of the goal line.

Royal regained control on the next possession. Wardenaar found junior standout Dax Jenks for a 71-yard catch-and-run touchdown, extending the Knights’ lead to 14 to 6 at halftime.

Bulldogs rally in the third

Cashmere opened the second half with a defensive stand, taking over on downs. The Bulldogs capitalized when sophomore running back Jacoby Tait scored on a 2-yard run with about four minutes left in the quarter. Hatmaker then rushed for the two-point conversion to tie the game 14 to 14.

Royal responded before the end of the quarter. Jenks scored again, this time on a 21-yard run, giving the Knights a 21 to 14 lead entering the fourth.

A fumble at the goal line and a final push

Cashmere nearly tied the game early in the fourth. Zavala caught a swing pass and lunged toward the end zone, but Brown stripped the ball inches before Zavala crossed the goal line. Royal recovered on its own 9-yard line with 8:46 remaining.

The Bulldogs defense held, giving Hatmaker and the offense one final opportunity. Cashmere took over on its 8-yard line with 4:26 left and mounted a 10-play march. The drive included a 33-yard completion from Hatmaker to Spies that pushed the Bulldogs inside the Royal 30.

Hatmaker scored on a 2-yard keeper with less than a minute to play, cutting the deficit to 21 to 20 and setting up the decisive conversion attempt.

Statistical leaders and standout performances

Hatmaker completed 23 of 31 passes for 217 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He also led the Bulldogs in rushing with 76 yards on 14 carries.

Tait contributed 23 rushing yards and a touchdown and added two receptions for 51 yards. Senior receiver Tom McDevitt, returning from injury, caught five passes for 42 yards, including two critical plays in the final drive.

Zavala led Cashmere with nine receptions for 39 yards. Spies added two catches for 46 yards. Odenrider had three receptions for 21 yards, and freshman Jayce McMahon added two catches for 16 yards.

On defense, junior SCAC defensive player of the year Grey Jacobson recorded two sacks. Senior linebacker Joseph Acton had a first-half interception.

A historic season ends one point short

Cashmere finished the season 11 and 2, with both losses coming against Royal. The Bulldogs reached the state final for the first time since 2008. A large contingent of Cashmere fans filled the lower bowl at Husky Stadium, witnessing the team come within a fingertip of ending Royal’s six-year championship streak.

Royal improved to 20 state titles in program history with the victory.