The Cashmere Bulldogs suffered a heartbreaking one-point loss in the state championship Friday night, falling 21–20 to rival Royal in a dramatic finish at Husky Stadium.
Cashmere received the opening kickoff but was forced into a quick three-and-out. Royal immediately took advantage. Junior quarterback Grant Wardenaar led a crisp opening drive, capping it with a touchdown strike to senior wide receiver Anderson Brown for a 7–0 lead.
Early in the second quarter, the Bulldogs answered. Senior quarterback Rylan Hatmaker guided Cashmere downfield and connected with junior tight end David Odenrider for a 13-yard score, cutting the deficit to 7–6. Cashmere attempted a two-point conversion out of its gate formation, but junior slotback Braylon Rubio was ruled down on a highly controversial play, leaving the Bulldogs still trailing by one.
Just two plays later, Royal struck back. Wardenaar found junior tailback Dax Jenks for a 71-yard touchdown, extending the Knights’ lead to 14–6, which held until halftime.
Royal opened the second half with a stalled drive, and Cashmere capitalized. The Bulldogs marched down the field and sophomore running back Jacoby Tait powered in a 3-yard touchdown to make it 14–12. Head coach Bryan Bremer again opted for two. This time, Cashmere unveiled a trick play: Hatmaker handed the ball to senior tailback Thomas Bergran, who handed it to Odenrider, who then pitched it back to Hatmaker for the successful conversion, tying the game at 14–14.
Royal responded once more, with Jenks breaking free for his second touchdown of the night to reclaim a 21–14 lead.
With eight minutes remaining, Cashmere mounted another determined drive highlighted by a 51-yard catch and run from Tait. The Bulldogs reached the 7-yard line, but disaster struck when senior Isaac Zavala was stripped at the 1-yard line by Anderson Brown, giving Royal the ball with four minutes left.
The Bulldog defense, however, refused to fold. Cashmere forced a quick stop and regained possession with two minutes remaining—one final chance for Hatmaker in his storied Bulldog career.
Hatmaker delivered, hitting senior receiver Logan Spies on a huge gain to move Cashmere into the red zone. Three plays later, Hatmaker kept the ball himself and ran in the touchdown, bringing Cashmere within a point at 21–20.
Coach Bremer initially sent out the PAT unit, but before the snap, he called a timeout. Looking toward the sideline, he signaled one word: “Heavy.” The formation had been used exclusively for running plays all season. Cashmere was going for the win.
With 18 seconds left, Zavala snapped the ball, faked a run left, spun back, and lofted a pass toward the end zone. The ball soared through the Seattle night and fell just two yards beyond the outstretched hands of Spies, landing incomplete on the turf.
Royal took over and kneeled out the clock, sealing the Knights’ sixth consecutive 1A state title, and ending Cashmere’s season one point short of a state championship.
The Bulldogs’ season was a major success. Although they didn’t accomplish their end goal, the 2025 Cashmere Bulldogs will be remembered as one of the greatest teams in Cashmere history.
