Overlooked Bulldogs JV Squad Starts Season 3-1

As Cashmere’s JV football squad continues a dominant campaign this season, they look ahead to their biggest challenge yet, Monday, October 6th, at Cashmere High School football field at 5:30, when they take on the Royal Knights. The JV team is coached by Aster Dotson, a Cashmere alumni who played his high school football here at Cashmere, playing Running Back and Linebacker.   who had this to say when asked about their much-anticipated battle with Royal, “I feel confident about each and every game we go into. Royal is obviously the standard to meet at all levels (Varsity, JV, C) of 1A football in recent years, but we prepare for each football team we play, and I feel great about the way our guys work each week.” 

He showed both respect towards the 1A football juggernaut that is Royal, while also showing the confidence he and this JV squad have. This confidence isn’t a coincidence, though, as Dotson stated that everyone has come a long way from where they were last spring. “Whether it’s the Freshman who worked hard beginning in the spring to learn new plays and a much bigger system, or the Sophomores who have worked to maintain and improve their high level of success.” 

This Cashmere JV team is 3-1 and has dominated in each of its wins. After suffering a devastating 5-point defeat to Wenatchee to begin the season, they bounced back, beating Omak 59-6, and then following that up with a 47-6 whooping of Okanogan, and then most recently, a 48-0 victory over the Wahluke Warriors with backup JV QB Callan Pipken leading the charge in place of the absence of starter Mac Carlson. 

Cashmere is captained by Sophomore quarterback Mac Carlson. Who thus far has had a very impressive start to the season. Mac isn’t just a quarterback, but he is also a leader and plays a big part in rallying the team. He says when a mistake is made, he likes to talk with teammates and instead of putting them down for a mistake, he helps lift them for the next play. Mac said this about rallying this young yet special JV squad, “You gotta rely on and trust your teammates, they are there to pick you up”. This mindset has helped propel this team to some big wins and a respectable campaign thus far. 

With the success of the JV team, it begs the question: could Cashmere JV football beat any varsity teams in their league? This question was asked to Coach Dotson as well as Carlson. They had pretty similar answers. Dotson talked about how the speed and physicality are quite different in varsity compared to JV. However, he said he believes in his team and thinks they could definitely keep some games close. Meanwhile, Carlson said this. “I think we definitely have a chance against some varsity teams. I think all the work we’ve put in over the spring and summer is a huge part of that confidence, and while I’m not 100% sure we can win, we can definitely hold our own.”

While the JV games are not played under the Friday night lights, of course, there is a lot of pressure to perform well for both the coaches and the players. Carlson had this to say when asked about his nerves before JV games, “Most guys usually aren’t that nervous before games, but I usually am. I’d say I’m around an eight out of ten”.

With Varsity coach Bryan Bremer leading Cashmere varsity to a third-place finish at state last season, it’s safe to say he knows a thing or two about how to coach a football team. Coach Dotson said this when asked about how he emulates Coach Bremer’s coaching style, “Coach Bremer brings a great energy and enthusiasm to everything he does, and it infects not only our football program, but the entire community! He is also one of the most prepared coaches I have ever been able to work with. Those two things are what I try the most to emulate.” 

Dotson not only coaches JV but is also the Offensive Coordinator for Varsity. He says that, paired with seeing how Bremer leads the varsity squad, has helped him better the JV players and has been a key factor in this young and promising JV squad going 3-1 thus far.