Coming off a smooth 35-0 win over Class 2 East Newton on Friday, the Cassville football team (3-1) will jump classes and face a test on homecoming this week against Class 4 McDonald County.
The Wildcats used big plays and stifling defense to produce a 35-0 victory over the Patriots. Clay Weldy, Cassville coach, said the victory was a nice change after Week 3’s Seneca loss.
I’m not sure it went exactly how we planned, but you have to hope it goes as well as it did,” he said. “We scored on our first five drive and then started mass substituting. That’s good for the program, and it was good for the defense to get its first shutout.”
Weldy said the Patriots’ opening drive took 7-1/2 minutes off the clock, and after getting that stop, the Wildcats went to work.
“After getting beat the way we got beat by Seneca, it was great to see us play so sharp and execute so well, especially on the road.”
Trey Wilson had a big night for Cassville, scoring three touchdowns on the ground.
His first came on a 3-yard run with 35 seconds left in the first quarter. After a Patriots fake punt failed, Cassville marched down the field and Wilson added another score with 6:28 left in the half.
Garrett Ewing inserted himself into the scoring with as long a touchdown reception as they come, going 98 yards on an over-the-shoulder catch in behind the East Newton defense.
Wilson then hit big again with a 55-yard touchdown run near the end of the half to put Cassville up 28-0 at the break. Bryson Jacobson also had a touchdown run.
The Wildcats’ defensive production matched its offense, with Cassville making multiple fourth-down stops in the opening periods.
After the break, Bryson Jacobson punched in a 1-yard score with 8:42 in the third, providing the final points of the contest.
The extra rest for starters may come into play this week, as the Wildcats on Homecoming night host a 3-1 McDonald County team that lost at Mt. Vernon in Week 1 but has defeated Marshfield, Logan-Rogersville and Nevada since, earning a 1-point victory over the Tigers on Friday, 27-26.
“The big thing with McDonald County is they are large, physically large,” Weldy said. “They are also very athletic and well-coached, and last year, they won 10 games and made it to the district championship game in Class 4. Their confidence is also high and they are playing really well, as we saw with that huge win over Nevada. They are confident, physical and athletic.”
Weldy said the Wildcats can’t focus on the Mustangs, rather, they should look inward.
“We can’t be anyone but ourselves,” he said. “We try to be confident and loose, and before the game against Seneca, we seemed tense and nervous. We didn’t do as well compared to the games we’ve won when we’re loose.”
Staying loose under the Friday night lights may be easier said than done, but Weldy said its something the program emphasizes.
“Don’t make a game bigger than what it is,” he said. “You have a job to do, but you also have to have fun at the same time. Sometimes we get really serious and want to execute and win, but you have to relax a little bit. if you’re confident, you should have no reason to fear.”
The Wildcats return home on Friday for homecoming, hosting McDonald County.
