Published: November 07, 2009 12:20 am      

FOOTBALL: Cass pulls away from NW late to win another sectional title

Damon Foreman made play after play in leading No. 9-ranked Lewis Cass past Northwestern 28-7 in the Class 2A Sectional 28 championship Friday night in front of an overflow crowd at the Tigers’ field.

Foreman directed a pair of long scoring drives that staked the Kings to a 14-0 advantage early in the fourth quarter. Then when the Tigers closed to within 14-7 and were driving for a potential tying score in the final two minutes, the King standout came up with two more plays.

Northwestern had first and 10 from the Cass 38 when Foreman intercepted a pass and returned it to the Northwestern 2-yard line with 1:10 remaining.

“I wasn’t expecting [Tiger QB Trevor Gibson] to throw it because I was standing right there,” Foreman said. “I about scored, but I didn’t have enough speed at the end there.”

Foreman found paydirt two plays later on a 1-yard QB sneak to put the game out of reach. On the next play from scrimmage, Cass linebacker Brody Edgerly came up with an interception that he returned 33 yards for a TD.

“Northwestern played a great game — it was a lot closer than what the score indicates,” Foreman said. “They played a lot tougher than the first time we played them [a 26-7 Cass win in Week 3]. They are a hard-hitting team.”

The Kings won their third straight sectional championship, fourth in five years and sixth overall — all under coach Scott Mannering.

“It feels good,” Foreman said. “You want to keep the tradition going. Hopefully we can get out third straight regional championship and keep moving on.”

Cass (9-3) returns home to host seven-time state champion Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (7-5) in a one-game regional on Friday. Luers drilled Winchester 68-0 in the Sectional 27 final.

Luers’ last state title came in 2007 when it beat Cass 14-0 in a semistate game.

“It’s apples and oranges when we play them because the competition they play is so good. Their kids expect to go deep in the tournament every year,” Mannering said. “We got them at home so that will be good, but it will be a big challenge. I think the kids are excited for the opportunity.”

Foreman picked off another Tiger pass on the final play of the game to finish with two interceptions, giving him seven on the season. He was just as impressive on offense despite playing at less than 100 percent. He ran for a game-high 85 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries and passed for 92 yards and another TD.

“We knew coming in he was our focus [on both sides of the ball]. He’s just an awfully good player. Give him credit; he refused to lose,” Northwestern coach John Hendryx said.

“I know he’s hurt and in a lot of pain and he’s just a gut-check kind of kid. I’m sure Scott couldn’t have dragged him off the field with a team of mules. It’s hard to beat those guys.”

Northwestern (9-3) seemed ready to strike first in the game when it put together a 14-play, 79-yard drive that spanned the first and second quarters. The Tigers had three cracks from the 1-yard line, but the Kings’ defense kept the Tigers out of the end zone.

“That was a big momentum changer,” Mannering said.

Cass took over on downs just ahead of its own end zone. Foreman and the Kings followed with a 10-play, 99-yard drive. Foreman completed 3 of 4 passes for 75 yards on the drive, connecting with Evan Depew for a 53-yard TD at 4:52 of the second quarter.

“Foreman scrambled, bought some time, and Depew kept running. Those two guys made a play,” Mannering said.

Northwestern fumbled the ensuring kickoff and Cass recovered at the Northwestern 28, but the Kings failed to take advantage. They dropped two passes in the end zone and committed two penalties. One of the penalties negated a long completion.

The Tigers had the ball to open the second half. They picked up a pair of first downs before having to punt — and Foreman quickly went back to work, leading the Kings on an 18-play, 89-yard scoring drive that he capped with a 1-yard sneak on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Foreman accounted for 60 yards running and throwing on the drive. In addition, he picked up five first downs including one option play where he ran for several yards before alertly pitching the ball to running back Derrick Worden, who gained another chunk of yards.

“It’s all up front — the line blocked great,” Foreman said.

Northwestern came right back with its lone scoring drive of the night. Gibson shook off a pair of incompletions to connect on four straight passes — the last, a 12-yard TD strike to Jake Yager with 10:23 remaining.

The Tigers had three possessions to draw closer, but Depew picked off a pass to end the first one and he broke up a pass to end the second, and Foreman came up with his first interception at 1:10.

“I thought our defense played outstanding in the second half when we had to get stops and we got turnovers,” Mannering said. “Obviously, that was the difference because offensively we did not play very well. That’s a credit to their defense.”

Cass outgained Northwestern 289-230 and Cass finished with a plus-six turnover margin.

Freshman kicker David Watterson went 4-for-4 on extra points for the Kings.