High school notebook: Cashion building program with consistency

“We've had some really good kids,” seventh-year head coach Lynn Shackelford said.

“We've got really good coaches,” said starting quarterback Ty Reasnor.

Understandably, it's got to be a little of both as Cashion continues its run with a monumental step, reaching the Class A semifinals for the first time under Shackelford.

Shackelford took over for Phil Elerick for the 2006 season, and the Wildcats have been running strong ever since. That even included the move from eight-man to 11-man football in 2008, which was the only season under Shackelford the Wildcats didn't win a playoff game.

They had been to the quarterfinals three previous times, and finally broke through with last week's 43-24 win at Talihina. Now, Cashion will take on No. 1 Wynnewood at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Norman High School.

And once again, the Wildcats will fall back on the core values that got them here.

“We've had enough kids come through here who have been good and worked hard at it, and they show the younger kids how to work,” Shackelford said. “If you get enough of those guys who are believing in that, then you can sustain some success. I think that, more than anything, is one of the reasons why we've been able to compete at one of the higher levels in our class.”