Cassville alums fall to Monett, 6-0

June 28, 2017
Lee Stubblefield
"Talkin' bout the pride and passion, and the thrill of it all" - John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band
Pride and passion were on display Saturday night at Monett's Burl Fowler Stadium. An 11-yard Tyler Going reverse for a first quarter touchdown accounted for all the scoring, as the Monett alumni claimed a 6-0 victory over Cassville. The unexpected defensive battle provided plenty of entertainment for the nearly 600 fans that came to witness the nostalgic rivalry.
When most people think of alumni, the mental picture includes silver-haired gentlemen and their trophy wives enjoying a plate of barbecue at the annual school picnic. There was plenty of gray hair under the helmets on Saturday night, too much for some. But none of the experienced warriors were about to miss the opportunity to suit up and play one more game in their school colors.
"There's a long list of people that think I'm crazy for being out here," noted Monett's Bill Richardson, a member of the graduating class of 1967.
Richardson's motivation for playing? Just spending time with the guys.
"I'm retired now, so it's fun to see all the old guys and catch up on everyone," he said.
Monett's Drew Meier, an '03 grad, sported a monstrous right knee brace during warmups.
Crippling injuries, or worse, are the biggest concern for those associated with these full-contact alumni contests. But except for cramps and a couple of minor dings, the players appeared to emerge from Saturday's game little worse for wear.
The Cub statesmen controlled this game. Only some crucial stops by the Cassville defense kept the score within reach, because the Wildcats could not muster any sustained offensive momentum.
Cassville punter Jason Bromley kept the Cubs pinned deep, offsetting his team's inability to move the chains.
After Cassville started the game with a three-and-out possession, Monett drove 49 yards for the game's only touchdown. Going was "going, going, gone!" as he eluded the Wildcats on a 4th-and-goal reverse sweep at the 2:14 mark. The extra point was blocked, but Monett already had the winning total on the scoreboard.
Monett had a golden opportunity when Eric Norris recovered a fumble at the Cassville 31-yard line. But the Cubs were denied when Rodney Rambo bulled through the line and sacked Brendon Cox on the final play of the first quarter.
Cassville's offense produced only one first down while turning the ball over three times in the first half. In the second half, the Wildcats managed two first downs, and finally crossed midfield for two snaps in Monett territory. But the Cubs played a conservative, field-position game in the late stages. A long drive ate up the final eight minutes of the fourth quarter, and then Monett's Dustin Stellwagen intercepted a desperation pass from Cassville's Anthony Sizemore to seal the victory.
Lee Stubblefield
"Talkin' bout the pride and passion, and the thrill of it all" - John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band
Pride and passion were on display Saturday night at Monett's Burl Fowler Stadium. An 11-yard Tyler Going reverse for a first quarter touchdown accounted for all the scoring, as the Monett alumni claimed a 6-0 victory over Cassville. The unexpected defensive battle provided plenty of entertainment for the nearly 600 fans that came to witness the nostalgic rivalry.
When most people think of alumni, the mental picture includes silver-haired gentlemen and their trophy wives enjoying a plate of barbecue at the annual school picnic. There was plenty of gray hair under the helmets on Saturday night, too much for some. But none of the experienced warriors were about to miss the opportunity to suit up and play one more game in their school colors.
"There's a long list of people that think I'm crazy for being out here," noted Monett's Bill Richardson, a member of the graduating class of 1967.
Richardson's motivation for playing? Just spending time with the guys.
"I'm retired now, so it's fun to see all the old guys and catch up on everyone," he said.
Monett's Drew Meier, an '03 grad, sported a monstrous right knee brace during warmups.
Crippling injuries, or worse, are the biggest concern for those associated with these full-contact alumni contests. But except for cramps and a couple of minor dings, the players appeared to emerge from Saturday's game little worse for wear.
The Cub statesmen controlled this game. Only some crucial stops by the Cassville defense kept the score within reach, because the Wildcats could not muster any sustained offensive momentum.
Cassville punter Jason Bromley kept the Cubs pinned deep, offsetting his team's inability to move the chains.
After Cassville started the game with a three-and-out possession, Monett drove 49 yards for the game's only touchdown. Going was "going, going, gone!" as he eluded the Wildcats on a 4th-and-goal reverse sweep at the 2:14 mark. The extra point was blocked, but Monett already had the winning total on the scoreboard.
Monett had a golden opportunity when Eric Norris recovered a fumble at the Cassville 31-yard line. But the Cubs were denied when Rodney Rambo bulled through the line and sacked Brendon Cox on the final play of the first quarter.
Cassville's offense produced only one first down while turning the ball over three times in the first half. In the second half, the Wildcats managed two first downs, and finally crossed midfield for two snaps in Monett territory. But the Cubs played a conservative, field-position game in the late stages. A long drive ate up the final eight minutes of the fourth quarter, and then Monett's Dustin Stellwagen intercepted a desperation pass from Cassville's Anthony Sizemore to seal the victory.