Seeded 23rd and already facing a tall task in No. 2 Cashmere, Kalama needed everything to go right if the Chinooks were to pull the upset in football’s Week 10 state-qualifiers.

Then, just like that, 14 seconds into the contest, Kalama trailed 7-0.

Ethan Bessonette had taken the opening kickoff 87 yards for a Bulldogs touchdown, and the rout was on.

Cashmere has made the return game a vital part of its game plan. The Bulldogs’ 11 return touchdowns are three more than given up by their defense – which has scored three times itself.

SCAC rival Royal also has made a habit scoring on plays initiated by the opponent. The top-ranked Knights have nine defensive touchdowns and also a pair of return scores.

The game-changing plays are a big part of why Royal (11-0) and Cashmere (10-1) are a game away from replaying the Oct. 3 overtime thriller that the Knights escaped from with a 21-15 victory.

As the opponents get tougher, and the games get tighter and one play can be the difference.

“It can be really important and the kids know that,” Royal coach Wiley Allred said. “They’re focused on the next play.”

Cashmere makes special teams – or Special Forces as coach Bryan Bremer and staff have dubbed them – a big part of their practices and recognition.

The Bulldogs hand out MDM – Most Dangerous Man – awards and the winner gets a T-shirt and leads the team onto the field the next week, carrying the American flag.

Bremer has the state’s all-time punt returner at his disposal. Cashmere senior Isaac Zavala has returned 11 punts for touchdowns in his career.

The SCAC opponents will meet a pair of Northwest Conference opponents Saturday in the state semifinals.

Fourth-seeded Lynden Christian heads to David Nielsen Memorial Field to face the five-time defending champion Knights. The Lyncs were the last team to beat Royal, which is on a 46-game winning streak.

For the second straight week, the Bulldogs will be the home team down the road at Wenatchee’s Apple Bowl, which has an artificial surface. After humbling Life Christian last week, No. 3 Mount Baker is next up for Cashmere.

Both games are set for 3 p.m. kickoffs.

Lynden Christian (10-1) and the Mountaineers (10-1) regular-season meeting was even tighter than the Cashmere-Royal matchup, with the Mt. Baker nabbing a 34-33 victory.

Despite replacing all but a few starters, the Knights – who have won 82 of 83 games since their last playoff loss, a 2018 semifinal setback to Colville – are on the cusp of playing for their ninth championship in 10 seasons.

“We’ve grown for sure with the experiences and time on the field and practice,” Allred said.  they’ve gotten better and they melded together.”

In the Lyncs, Allred see a team that will test Royal.

“Physically they’re solid, they’re big and rangy kids,” he said. “Just what we expect from a team still playing.”

It’s the Mountaineers’ scheme that concerns Bremer. After containing Life Christian’s versatile quarterback Jabez Boyd, Mt. Baker will throw a modified Wing-T at a Bulldogs defense that has six shutouts this season.

“This is really the first look at it for us,” Bremer said. “It’s a tough week of prep with the speed.”

The winners of Saturday’s semifinals will meet 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5 at Husky Stadium.