Cascade Kodiaks impress at 2024 Rumble in the Valley football jamboree

Benjamin Jerome
CHS Publications Group

SULTAN -The 2024 Rumble in the Valley Football Jamboree created a great opportunity for the Cascade Kodiaks to showcase some of the skills that they had been working on in the offseason, and they did just that. The Kodiaks' competition was comprised of the host, the Sultan Turks, and the visiting Coupeville Wolves.

To kick off the jamboree, the Kodiaks participated in skill games such as the sled push, displaying their improvements in various positions, especially on the offensive line. Cascade’s offside line outperformed the two other schools to win the 10-yard push with a time of 3.8 seconds, while the other competitors sat at around 5 seconds. 

Cascade dominated the next competition as well, as Kodiak senior edge rushers Trail Heyl and Landon Curnutt blew past the opposing offensive lineman in a one-versus-one battle. On the other side of the ball, offensive lineman senior Ethan Flansburg and junior Conner Shoenwald, held back the oncoming Turks and Wolves. 

Following the skill games, Cascade’s defense was put on the field, tasked to hold their own against both offensives, rotating each play. On the first snap, the Kodiaks showed how hard they worked in the offseason as, once again, senior lineman Ethan Flansburg broke through the line and delivered a hard hit to Coupeville’s running back for a loss of about four yards.

“I would say our defense yesterday compared to last year is smarter,” remarked Flansburg, who continued, “As for me, I put on some more muscle and am faster than last season, making breaking through the line and chasing down plays easier. For the most part, my defense is significantly better, same as offense, hence my domination in the 1 on 1’s and sled push. It will be a great senior season, and I can’t wait.”

The rest of the Kodiaks’ defensive plays went similarly, as they only allowed one touchdown in 24 snaps. After the defensive rally, the offense had their time to shine. The Kodiaks’ first plays were outstanding runs by senior running back duo Artie Northrup and Cole Ennis, each running for well over ten yards. 

Finishing the offensive performance, senior quarterback William Biebesheimer passed a brilliantly laid out ball to Sophomore Julian Feeney, who blew past Coupeville’s defensive backs for a Kodiak touchdown.

“We have a lot of improvements we need to make, but after coming off of a rough season, we’re ready for whatever gets thrown at us,” commented Biebesheimer, “Good plays were made on both sides of the ball, and we’ve definitely improved a lot from last year. The team is finally coming together, and instead of using what we used to have, we adapted the offense based on our players, and it’s working way better.”

The Jamboree concluded with the Kodiak junior varsity putting on a show on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Overall, the Jamboree was a great success for the Kodiaks, as it gave the spectators a look into the future of Cascade High School football.

The Kodiaks push forward into their next and first full game of the season against Liberty Bell on Friday, September 6, at 7 p.m. at the Peshastin a Dryden field.