It was one of the most back-and- forth district quarterfinal games in recent memory, and the Cassville football team wrestled its way to a 24-21 win over Aurora on Friday, setting up a district semifinal contest this week at No. 1 Reeds Spring.

After the win Friday, the first question hurled at Coach Clay Weldy was, “How’s your heart rate?”

“It’s pretty high,” he said. “I’m proud of this win. It may be an ugly win, but we’ll take it. It’s better than an ugly loss.”

Strictly on points, the game was won by a 27-yard Peter Littlefield field goal after Cassville covered 50 yards on a drive with 4:34 left in the opening frame.

Momentum-wise, there were two high points, one in the second quarter and one in the fourth.

In a boom-boom-boom series of plays, Aurora recovered its second onside kick of the first half, but a wayward pass was picked off by Joseph Burton and returned to midfield, where Bodee Rose dropped a 20-yard dime to Trey Wilson for a 50-yard touchdown reception and 17-7 lead.

In the second half, the Houn’ Dawgs took a 21-17 lead midway through the third, and Cassville drove to attempt a 22-yard field goal that swung wide left.

In the final frame, after giving up two first downs and making a big defensive stand, the Wildcats created a weaving lane for Rose to sprint 60 yards to paydirt to put Cassville back on top.

While the score did not change from there, plenty of moments raised coaches’ and fans’ blood pressure. After a Wilson punt return following a Hernandez block moved the ball to Aurora’s 35, a run from Bryson Jacobson ended with a stripped ball and going the Houn’ Dawgs’ way.

Hernandez provided the final nail in the coffin with an interception on an Hail Mary pass with just over a minute left. With Aurora having only one timeout, the Wildcats knelt out the clock from there.

“We kept trying to find ways to lose the game, then would find our way back in it and win,” Weldy said. “I’m proud of Hernan for stepping up, and Josh [Olsen] has been getting some varsity reps as of last week, and that helped our passing game.”

Hernandez, who reeled in multiple catches and the game-icing interception, said the boost for the Wildcats came in the second half.

“In the first half, we struggled a lot,” he said. “When we started the fourth quarter, there was change, and we got the stop and scored. We all knew this wold be a dog fight even though we beat them in Week 2.”

Hernandez said with Garrett Ewing out injured, he felt called to replace the production through the air.

“We all knew Garrett was going to be out, so it was my time to step up and prove to coach I’m a good player,” Hernandez said. “Nothing really changed having Garrett out — we just did our jobs.

“I want to give credit to our linemen. They didn’t give up and communicated. That’s why we scored, because the line communicated up front. We won because of them.”

Weldy said the kind of night Hernandez had helps others on the team, as well.

“Garrett and Trey are most of our passing game, and Hernan having a big night gives him confidence, but it also gives Bodee confidence too,” Weldy said.

Looking forward, Cassville will have to bring it all from here on out, facing the top-ranked team in the district on Friday in Reeds Spring.

“They are really a passing team, and we’ll have to stop that, the run and the Weist kid,” Hernandez said. “We have to communicate, get our alignments right and tackle.”

Weldy said the Wildcats are excited for another week of football, and the Wolves will be a test.

“Last week, we et the goal to win and move on, and this week is the same,” he said. “Reeds is a good team, the top seed and the Big 8 East champion. We’re excited to go play them.”

Weldy said the Wolves’ success has been shouldered by some big pads, especially on the offensive line.

“They have good size on both lines and very good athletes and skill kids,” he said. “Their quarterback also has one of the best arms I’ve seen this year. He can throw 50 yards and stretch us vertically and horizontally. We have to just do what we do and hope to execute at our best.

“On Friday, we had some mistakes like turnovers and penalties, so we want to play a little cleaner and to control the pace of the game like we want to against Reeds.”

Weldy said he hopes Ewing will be available, as well as Riley Ruark, who has had spot snaps in recent weeks but is not fully recovered from an injury earlier this season.

“They make us better if they can play, but we’ll just have to see how this week goes,” he said. “Most games are also won and lost up front, so it’s vital that our line plays well. On Friday, we had moments we looked good, and we’ll need all of that against Reeds.

“All season, it’s been the same. We have to do better executing.”

Kickoff on Friday is at 5 p.m. in an attempt to avoid possible weather delays.