2023 RECORD OVERALL RECORD : 7-5 DISTRICT RECORD : 4-2
Cayuga WILDCATS
TAYLOR HONEA Sports Writer sports @ palestineherald . com
Most teams have moved away from a run-heavy offensive set , such as the Wing-T , but the Cayuga Wildcats have leaned fully into their strengths , and built a formidable perennial playoff contender . While their system has been somewhat modernized , the Cayuga Wildcats play a physical brand of football , asserting their will on most opponents , bringing back fond memories of football long ago . The Wildcats started the season with one goal in mind . The Wildcats vowed not only to make the playoffs , but to get revenge on the Riesel Indians , who knocked Cayuga out in round one of the 2022 playoffs after the Wildcats posted a 9-1 regular season record . As fate would have it , the Wildcats would get their chance . Cayuga drew the Indians once again for a bi-district showdown , and this time , led by quarterback Gunner Douglas ’ three touchdown night , the Wildcats would taste victory , ending Riesel ’ s season with a 20-14 win . The Wildcats running back stable was deep this season , with four different players rushing for over 550 yards . Senior tandem Jakobe Brown and Whit Jenkins lead the pack , rushing for 1,034 and 723 yards respectively , and combined for 23 scores . Sophomore quarterback Douglas and junior running back Shiloh Peckham rounded out the top rushing spots , with Peckham going for 628 and Douglas gaining 551 yards on the season . Cayuga ’ s hard nosed defense allowed 20 or less points six times over the course of the 12 game season , going 5-1 in those contests . The Wildcats benefitted from one of the better defensive lines in the area , led by Landon Henry . Henry , the Palestine Herald- Press ’ 2023 Utility Player of the Year , is a defensive
coach ’ s dream , as the senior has a motor that just doesn ’ t quit , and high level of football knowledge . Sophomore defensive ends Cam Stegall and Hayden Schranck have followed in the footsteps of their senior leader , and look ready to take the next steps into stardom in 2024 . Cayuga will have to do some retooling over the offseason , but will benefit from the return of several starters on both sides of the ball . It will be interesting to see if the Wildcats stay with their ground and pound rushing style , or move more toward a balanced offense in the future , especially with the continued growth of Douglas as a passer and the return of leading receiver Dom Johnson , who will be a senior in 2024 .
12 WINTER EDITION 2024