Down two of their most potent weapons on Thursday, Cashion rode the legs of Hank Brown and Andrew Stockton to victory.

The two combined for all three of their team’s touchdowns as the Wildcats opened District 2A-II-1 action with a 21-14 victory at Alva.

Brown scored two rushing touchdowns and also had the game-clinching 4-yard run on a fourth down play as Cashion attempted to run out the clock.

It capped a second half that provided considerably more fireworks than the first two quarters that saw Cashion take only a 7-0 lead.

Alva tied the game in the third quarter on an 87yard touchdown pass from Ashton Ferrell, which was the Goldbugs first offensive spark of the game.

But Cashion answered with a 65-yard touchdown drive that saw Stockton score on a 26-yard run on a 3rd-and-6 play.

That was the start of the decisive stretch for Cashion.

Cashion jumped on a Goldbug fumble on the next snap, which gave Cashion the ball at the Alva 15 late in the third.

Early in the fourth - on yet another 3rd-and-6 play - Brown’s 11-yard run and ensuing two-point conversion run put the Wildcats up 21-7.

It was seemingly safe as Cashion gave up a time-consuming drive, but eventually forced an Alva turnover on downs and took over at its own 14 with 6:27 to play.

Sparked by a 30-yard pass from Stockton to Rival Fields, Cashion drove into Goldbug territory, but eventually fumbled it away.

The Goldbugs drove 71 yards in 1:39 to pull within a score on Tripp Cole’s 9-yard run with 1:51 to play.

Alva attempted an onside kick, but Kash Smith jumped on the kick for the Wildcats.

Needing just one first down to seal the win, Cashion gambled on a 4th-and-3 play from its own 43.

Brown got 4 yards and the Wildcats ran out the rest of the clock.

The senior back also had a 25-yard TD run in the first half and finished with 120 yards on 22 carries. Stockton ran for 76 yards on 13 attempts.

Stockton got his first career start at quarterback and finished 10 of 22 for 138 yards.

Fields caught five passes for 89 yards.

The Wildcats were without Kellen Smith and Grayson Davis, both of whom are two-way starters.

Coach Lynn Shackelford said they’re expected to miss this week’s homecoming game with Meeker as well.

Despite their absence, Cashion was able to snap a two-game losing skid.

That was aided by a defense that stuffed Alva much of the night.

The Goldbugs had four net rushing yards on 26 carries.

Ferrell threw for 177 yards, but nearly half came on one play.

He completed only 8 of 20 passes.

Brown and Gavin Layton led the Cashion defense with six stops apiece.

Gage Jeffries had five tackles.

Cashion moved to 2-2 with the win and is 1-0 in district play.

The Wildcats are playing their first home game this Friday since their season opener in Week 0.