BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com

It took six lead changes to determine the winner of Friday’s Class 3, District 6 quarterfinal barnburner, and a Cassville team seeking to avenge a regular-season loss suffered a second consecutive to the Patriots, 39-28.

Clay Weldy, Cassville football coach, said the program preaches taking care of the little things, and a few too many mistakes combined with East Newton’s resilience proved the difference.

“If you don’t correct the little things, they can become big things,” he said. “We didn’t tackle very well or line up well defensively, and on offense, we missed some blocks. We didn’t play with the same intensity we had for the last few weeks, for whatever reason.

“And, credit to East Newton because they made big plays when they had to, especially in times when we could have put them away.”

Cassville opened the game mightily, getting a tackle for loss and pass breakup on the Patriots’ first drive and forcing a punt, then countering with a 6-play, 79-yard drive capped by a 54-yard touchdown catch by senior Kyle Bailey.

East Newton took the game into the second quarter with a 62-yard drive and 5-yard rush to tie the game, and after a Cassville turnover on downs, went up 13-7 on an 81-yard drive ending with a 10-yard touchdown pass.

With 2:13 left in the half, Cassville drove to East Newton’s 33-yard line, but a pass to the end zone was picked off and the Patriots took the 6-point advantage into the break.

The Wildcats barely recovered East Newton’s squibb kick to start the second half, but they were resolute in the ensuing drive. On the third play, junior Colton Roark took a pitch left and covered 56 yards to paydirt for a 1-point lead.

Cassville then forced a three-andout, and senior Isaac Pickett blocked the punt to give the Wildcats the ball at East Newton’s 2-yard line, from where Roark scored on the next play. The second touchdown in 1:50 put Cassville up 21-13 with 8:51 in the third.

The Patriots, however, did not slow down. After a 70-yard drive — which included a fake put pass complete for 41 yards — and 6-yard touchdown run, East Newton took advantage of a Cassville fumble by scoring on a 73-yard touchdown run a play later to go up 25-21 with 3:38 still to go in the third.

The Wildcats responded with a drive taking 5:38 off the clock, but it ended with an interception on a wide receiver pass at the 7-yard line. Cassville’s defense held East Newton to another three-and-out, and a low snap forced the Patriots’ punter to scramble, turning it over on downs at the 8-yard line.

Roark took the first handoff to the 2-yard line, then flipped over the line to stretch the ball across the plane for a 28-25 advantage with 8:11 in the game.

East Newton’s longest drive of the night came next, going 76 yards in 6:04 and ending in a 12-yard touchdown pass with only 2:07 on the clock.

Tristan Thompson returned the ensuing kickoff to the 23-yard line, but a quick pass to the flat on the first play of the drive was intercepted and returned to the 8-yard line. Three plays later, a 5-yard pass to the corner of the end zone gave East Newton a two-possession cushion.

Cassville drove across midfield in the final minute, but the drive stalled and was turned over on fourth-and-2, allowing the Patriots to kneel out the clock.

Rose went 7-for-12 through the air in the game for 94 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception, adding 68 rushing yards on 12 attempts.

He said the final horn on his three-year quarterback career was a tough one to hear.

“It was like a punch in the gut because there were six lead changes, so we were right there and it was anyone’s ballgame,” he said. “In the second half, we scored those two back-to-back, and I was thinking we couldn’t give that up. Later, when it settled in this would be it, I didn’t know what to do. It was shocking.”

Pickett, who blocked the punt and logged a sack, said he had the same inkling.

“I was in shock because we all thought we would win and it wouldn’t be our last time out,” he said. “It was sad because it’s the last game I’ll ever play.”

In other stats, Roark led the backs with 120 yards on 9 carries, and 3 touchdowns. Bailey led receivers with 60 yards on 2 catches and 1 touchdown.

Defensively, Bailey led tacklers with 4, plus 8 assists and a forced fumble, which was collected by Roark.

Weldy said Roark had a standout night statistically, and the Cassville special teams played exceptionally well.

“Roark had a big night rushing the ball, and special teams played better than the first time we played East Newton,” Weldy said. “That fake put, we had it covered, and the kid just made a great catch. We got the punt block and jumped on that bad snap, so that was the biggest standout was special teams.”

Following his postgame speech and team’s breakdown, many players approached Weldy to shake hands or embrace, and Weldy later sought out players to wish at the season’s end.

“You are never ready for it,” he said. “I have been very fortunate to be with teams who have gone to state championships, and won and lost, and no matter how it ends, you’re never ready.

“We spend a lot of time with these kids, five years for me doing middle school weights, so it’s hard to see them graduate. You just appreciate all the hard work they’ve put in and what they’ve done for the program.”

Cassville’s senior class, though small in number, had a great impact according to their coach.

“I’m proud of how our seniors played all year,” Weldy said. “There’s only five of them, but the impact they had and contributions they made put the program in a better place than it was when they came in. They did a really good job.”

In a tumultuous Big 8 year when the Wildcats beat Lamar and Monett but lost to East Newton twice, Rose said there were plenty of good takeaways.

“Beating Lamar was the best game for me,” he said. “We also played three games in a row in one-score games, and even though we lost some, it was great to see us play so consistently. A win over Monett is always nice, and it was also nice to keep the streak against Aurora alive [at 22 games in 20 years].”

Pickett said his favorite memories of the season were all based in spending time with his teammates.

“I loved playing with all my friend and getting to know the new coaches,” he said. “The best game for me was Monett, because of the atmosphere and getting the win.”

Cassville’s Class of 2024 leaves behind a number of multi-year underclassmen starters, and they believe they have pushed the program in the right direction.

“We have to appreciate the program because we have a good one here,” Rose said. “We have to continue carrying that on with honor and representing Cassville the best we can. I think we left it better than we found it.”

Rose said to achieve that deeper success, it takes being in tune at all times.

“Do the right thing even when no one is paying attention,” he said. “A lot of leadership is integrity. Lead by example, and be positive; be vocal, but constructive.”

Pickett said along with leading, listen.

“Listen to what the coaches say because they know what’s best — and give all your effort,” he said.

Rose added a positive outlook also goes a long way.

“You also have to enjoy everything,” he said. “Even when coach is yelling at you and it sucks, or you lose a game, focus on all things positive; because, at the end of the day, you get the opportunity to go out and play football.”