It was going to be a difficult catch regardless of the conditions, which were less than desirable as driving rain pounded an already soggy, soaked field.
But when Cascade Christian freshman quarterback Jaelin Goldsmith lofted a pass toward the corner of the end zone as time expired in the first half, he figured it had a chance simply because Jake Archer was the target.
Archer has been making plays for the Cougars for four years, but this one might catapult Cascade Christian to a league championship.
Archer gave the Cougars a much-needed momentum boost by hauling in Goldsmith’s 23-yard touchdown pass before the intermission.
Archer’s big catch helped Cascade Christian to a 34-3 victory over visiting Life Christian in a key Nisqually League battle Saturday at Sunset Chev Stadium in Sumner.
“At first I thought I was just going to tuck it away and run,” said Goldsmith, who completed 11 of 14 passes for 125 yards. “Then I saw Jake. He’s out all-state receiver, so I put it up there.”
Alex Milton set up Archer’s first-half heroics by blocking an Eagles’ punt and giving the Cougars the ball at the Life Christian 23 with 6 seconds remaining in the half.
“It was the momentum swing we needed,” Archer said. “We were pretty fired up at the half.”
Archer’s grab turned a slim 7-3 lead into a 14-3 cushion at the intermission for Cascade Christian.
“That was the turning point,” said Cascade Christian coach Randy Davis. “We needed that right before the half.”
The Cougars (6-2 overall, 3-1 league) can wrap up their sixth consecutive Nisqually League championship with a victory next week at Orting.
Cascade Christian scored 20 points in the fourth quarter to put the game away - getting short TD runs from Hunter Austin and Milton and a 36-yard interception return for a score from Kyle Crawford.
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