In a conference where experience is a trademark of a good team, the Cassville football squad is hoping to make good this season with a thirdyear starter ate quarterback and multiple backfield options who have seen snaps in recent years.
Clay Weldy, Cassville football coach, said as the 2024 season approaches, a segment of the team’s faith will fall in the hands of senior Bodee Rose, entering his third year as starting quarterback.
“Bodee has had a good summer, and we hope his amount of experience translates in games,” Weldy said. “When you see things for a couple years, the game slows down, and that’s the major thing we’ll be looking for from Bodee this season is good decision-making.”
Rose, one of only two returning starters on the 2023 offense, went 32-for-84 passing for 340 yards, 2 touchdowns and 14 picks. He added 881 yards on the ground on 138 attempts (6.4 yards per carry), scoring 13 touchdowns on the season.
Working behind Rose in the depth chart are juniors Tristan Thompson and Andon Goutney, as well as sophomores Jaren Stearns and Kaleb Artherton.
“Tristan and Andon worked quarterback last season and have found other ways to get on the field,” Weldy said. “Both of the sophomores are good. Jaren has really grown physically since last year, and Kaleb has, too. Right now, they are fighting for a spot at corner. I feel good about the future when Bodee graduates because we have juniors or seniors next year with the opportunity to win the job.”
Supporting Rose and the back-up quarterbacks is an equally diverse group of running backs. Returning from last season is senior Kyle Bailey and Thompson, with sophomores Masin Bryan and Easton Hughes, as well as junior Chance Freed and Goutney, backing up the duo.
Bailey handled the most carries out of the backfield for Cassville last season, running 118 times for 672 yards (5.7 yards per carry) and 5 touchdowns. Thompson carries 20 times for 97 yards and a score.
“Last year, we had only one guy on the offensive line that wasn’t a first-year starter, so our offense in general should do more than last year – by a lot,” Weldy said. “Just from retention, we are starting off further along than last season.”
Weldy said the lack of experience in 2023 was a hinderance, but not so this season.
“We couldn’t do some things I wanted to do last year, and it wasn’t their fault because they were just young,” Weldy said. “We have a few new faces, but our veterans can pull them along.”
Publisher’s Note: This story is the first in a five-part series running July 24 through Aug. 21 breaking down the 2024 Cassville football team by position groups.
