ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
After just one year in Monett the Barry County Brawl trophy is back in Cassville’s display case.
The Wildcats (5-4) put together their best game of the season, according to Coach Clay Weldy, besting the Cubs (0-9) by a score of 42-7 at Wildcat Stadium on Friday.
“This is the best we’ve played as a team this year,” Weldy said. “We’ve either played well defensively and struggled offensively, or vice versa, but tonight we played well in all three phases of the game: offense, defense and special teams. I’m proud of how we played.”
Cassville’s first drive ended in a punt, but the next five all found paydirt — all before halftime.
Quarterback Bodee Rose started the scoring spree with a highlight reel run, cutting through a hole in the line and to the away sideline, avoiding one wouldbe tackler as he crossed midfield to score a 90-yard touchdown run.
Defense and special teams set the offense up with field position multiple times in the contest, such as the second drive. Dakota Bowen returned a punt from the Cassville side of the field to the Cubs’ 23-yard line. Three runs later and Rose added to his tally with a 9-yard touchdown run as the fist quarter wound down.
Bowen struck again immediately in the second quarter, taking another punt return 46 yards to the Monett 21-yard line.
“I had a lot of great blocks on that return and tried to find my way through them” Bowen said.
A sideline interference penalty spotted Cassville at the 36, but the distance did not bother halfback Kyle Bailey, who scampered through the line and to the home sideline for the third score of the game.
The Bowen show continued in the next series, though with a defensive play instead of special teams. An overthrown pass arched right into his arms, and the senior returned the pick to the Cubs’ 46-yard line. The Wildcats took seven plays before halfback Tristan Thompson punched in the fourth score with 5:15 left in the first half.
Bowen said when the ball was in the air, he was covering a couple receivers in space.
“I was floating in between a couple guys, and they put the ball where I could make a play on it,” he said.
“That was a big moment,” Weldy said. “That catch helped us set up that touchdown and close out the game.”
Cassville forced a turnover on downs on the next Monett drive, leaving enough time to possibly tack on the turbo clock touchdown before the break. From their own 42-yard line, Colton Roark hauled in a 38-yard pass reception, Bowen added a short gain on a catch, and a play after recovering a fumble, Rose gained a first down to the 22-yard line.
Rose scored on the next play, but the touchdown was negated for a block in the back. He then ran it to the 17 with 9.7 seconds left in the half, but a false start on the next play moved it to the 22.
Undaunted, Rose hit a wide open Roark again on a crossing route, and he dashed to the end zone for the 35-0 scoreline with 3 seconds left.
With the clock running, Monett went on a drive that took the entirety of the third quarter, ultimately turning the ball over to Cassville at the Wildcats’ 46-yard line.
In just 1:28, Jacobson found the end zone for Cassville again with a 42-yard jaunt.
The Wildcats’ backups then took the field on defense, forcing the Cubs to use all three timeouts and score on an inches-long dive at the goal line for their only score of the game, and with only 21 seconds to play.
Weldy, who has coach at Cassville for 16 years and seen rivalry games year after year, said this one was fun.
“It’ a cool rivalry game, and I have a lot of respect for Monett,” he said. “I’ve been here a long time, and it’s always fun as a coach or a player. I’m proud of these kids for getting the trophy back. It was nice to see the seniors step up. It was a team effort and our best game of the year.”
After falling in last year’s Brawl on the road, 27-10, Bowen said this year’s win a senior meant everything.
“For me, it feels great,” he said. “I’m glad we got [the trophy] back, and I hope we can keep it.”
Bowen said the junior varsity getting some Brawl experience was an added plus on the day.
“That defensive stand made us proud,” he said. “[The starters] were all walking around congratulating everyone, and it was good to get the trophy back and a win like this going into districts. After this, I think we can go on a roll. I’m not sure who we play, but we’ll be ready for them.”
The victory for Cassville was pivotal for district seeding, as it moved the Wildcats back into the top of the bracket as the No. 4 seed, securing a home playoff game.
The opponent is another historic rival, No. 5 Aurora, who took the Wildcats to the brink in Week 2 this season. On the road, Cassville clung on to a 22-19 win, the 20th consecutive over the Houn’ Dawgs in 19 years of contests.
The Wildcats hope to keep that streak alive on on Friday.
Weldy said with seven more games under their belts since then, the Wildcats have grown — but so has Aurora.
“We have gotten more seasoned with experience,” he said. “We are making less silly mistakes, and we are playing more confidently right now. Aurora has been playing well on defense the whole season, and that has not changed since we last played them. They have vastly improved on offense as the year has gone on, and they are running the ball really well right now, and scoring more points lately.”
Regardless of the matchup, Weldy said the motivation for Cassville is simple — to keep playing.
“We know that it is: winner stays and loser turns in their gear,” Weldy said. “We want to keep playing and not be done. I think we will have plenty of motivation.”
A factor Cassville hopes will be a positive is location, as the Wildcats are 4-1 at home this season, losing only to Nevada.
“It’s always nice getting a home game in the first round of districts,” Weldy said. “We have played well at home all year, so we are hoping that continues this Friday.”
Kickoff at Wildcat Stadium on Friday is at 7 p.m.
