Cassville celebrates Senior Night with win over East Newton
Above, Senior cheerleader Samantha Sparkman (left) walks down the track at Wildcat Stadium on Senior Night with her father, Gamon Sparkman (right). Sparkman carries a photo of her mother, Shelley Sparkman, who passed away two years ago from ovarian cancer. Photo by Priscilla Craig.
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Above, Senior cheerleader Jaycie Ertel is escorted into Wildcat Stadium by her father, Shannon Davis (left), and Amy Davis (right) on Senior Night Friday. Photo by Priscilla Craig.
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October 20, 2021
Lee Stubblefield
The Cassville Wildcats rebounded from their loss at Seneca in a big way, defeating the East Newton Patriots at Wildcat Stadium on Friday night, 42-6. Jake Anthonysz led the Wildcats with a stellar offensive performance. Cassville’s junior running back rushed for 111 yards and three touchdowns, and also scored on a 66-yard pass play.
Senior Night saw seven Wildcats - Cutter Hicks, Eli Pickett, Ethan Fuchs, Michael Morgan, Landry Mills, and Wyatt Cochran - play their last regular season game in front of the home crowd.
This was an important game for both teams. Cassville at 2-5 and East Newton at 1-6 both desperately needed a win to help improve their district standing. With a week #9 game against Lamar, the Patriots knew this was likely their last chance for a victory this season. Cassville also has a tall order to fill with a road game upcoming against McDonald County.
2021 has been another frustrating year for East Newton. Add this one to an eleven-year drought, a stretch in which the Patriots won just nine games. A stretch that included five winless seasons. A stretch where the best season record was 3-7.
This was a game that Cassville could ill afford to lose. But crazier things have happened. With a wet and muddy field figuring into the night’s challenges, this Cassville team was determined to get off to a good start.
Hernan Hernandez returned the opening kickoff out to the Cassville 35-yard line, and then the Wildcats went to work. Lance Parnell’s team marched 65 yards in eleven plays to take an early lead. After ten consecutive runs out of the I-formation, Cutter Hicks sneaked the final two yards into the end zone out of the wishbone. Peter Littlefield added the PAT for a 7-0 Cassville lead with 6:29 left in the first quarter.
Littlefield’s kickoff hooked left toward the Cassville sideline, but East Newton’s Matthew Knight fielded the kick and went out of bounds at the 15-yard line. The Patriots struggled through a three-and-out, and Ty Bowman’s punt died at the Cassville 34-yard line.
Hicks rifled a slant to Anthonysz on the right hash, and he jetted away from the defensive backs for a 66-yard touchdown. It was the only pass completion of the night for Hicks. Littlefield converted the PAT kick for a 14-0 lead at the 4:49 mark.
An East Newton punt, a Hicks interception, and a Patriot drive that ended with an incompletion in the end zone saw the score remain 14-0 at the 7:41 mark of the second quarter. The Wildcats drove to the East Newton 28-yard line but a holding call ruined that promising drive and Hernandez punted to the East Newton four-yard line.
Three plays later, Hernandez intercepted a Bowman pass and returned the ball to the East Newton 26-yard line with just 1:48 on the clock. A personal foul advanced the ball down to the eleven. On third down from the five yard line, Hicks crashed into the end zone for his second score of the game. Littlefield split the sticks again for a 21-0 lead with a mere 26 seconds left in the half.
The Wildcats held the Patriots to a three-and-out to open the third quarter, and then embarked on another long scoring drive. This 14-play, 65-yard odyssey saw Keaton Shellenberger attempt a halfback pass on third down from the East Newton 40-yard line. The pass fell incomplete but the Patriots held on the play, giving Cassville new life.
Four plays later, Anthonysz rolled into the end zone from three yards out. Littlefield contributed again for a 28-0 lead with 3:41 left in the quarter.
Knight again fielded a ball destined to go out of bounds, and stepped on the sideline at the East Newton three-yard line.
A first down run by Nathan Every gained only two yards. Then Evey fumbled on the next play and Cassville’s Ethan Lamborn recovered at the East Newton 10-yard line. It took Anthonysz two carries to find the end zone. Littlefield nailed another PAT to give the Wildcats a 35-0 lead and start the running clock with 2:20 still to play in the third quarter.
The fireworks were not over.
Littlefield finally boomed a kickoff down the center of the field. Knight ran up to make the catch but the ball bounced off his pads and Bryson Jacobson recovered for Cassville at the East Newton 25-yard line.
Anthonysz scored from ten yards out on the first play of the final quarter. Then Littlefield finished his perfect night, converting for the sixth time to give Cassville a 42-0 lead.
With clean-jerseyed substitutions pouring in from both sidelines, the Patriots drove 75-yards in 14 plays to get on the scoreboard. Bowman tossed a 13-yard scoring pass to Easton Schrader with 2:16 left in the game. The PAT failed, leaving 42-6 as the final score.
The Wildcats racked up 278 yards of total offense. Cassville running backs gained 212 yards on 40 carries, led by Anthonysz with 111 yards on 22 attempts. Cutter Hicks completed just one of his three pass attempts, the 66-yard catch-and-run touchdown connection to Anthonysz.
The Patriots gained just 171 total yards, with 75 of those on the late scoring drive.
Cassville improved to 3-5 while East Newton slipped to 1-7.
The Wildcats hit the road on Friday night, travelling to Anderson to play the McDonald County Mustangs in the final regular season game. Kickoff is set for 7 PM.
Big 8 scores
• Cassville 42, East Newton 6
• Lamar 41, Seneca 0
• McDonald County 39, Nevada 34
• Aurora 28, Reeds Spring 14
• Rogersville 57, Marshfield 28
• Hollister 38, Mt. Vernon 0
• Monett 24, Springfield Catholic 17
Lee Stubblefield
The Cassville Wildcats rebounded from their loss at Seneca in a big way, defeating the East Newton Patriots at Wildcat Stadium on Friday night, 42-6. Jake Anthonysz led the Wildcats with a stellar offensive performance. Cassville’s junior running back rushed for 111 yards and three touchdowns, and also scored on a 66-yard pass play.
Senior Night saw seven Wildcats - Cutter Hicks, Eli Pickett, Ethan Fuchs, Michael Morgan, Landry Mills, and Wyatt Cochran - play their last regular season game in front of the home crowd.
This was an important game for both teams. Cassville at 2-5 and East Newton at 1-6 both desperately needed a win to help improve their district standing. With a week #9 game against Lamar, the Patriots knew this was likely their last chance for a victory this season. Cassville also has a tall order to fill with a road game upcoming against McDonald County.
2021 has been another frustrating year for East Newton. Add this one to an eleven-year drought, a stretch in which the Patriots won just nine games. A stretch that included five winless seasons. A stretch where the best season record was 3-7.
This was a game that Cassville could ill afford to lose. But crazier things have happened. With a wet and muddy field figuring into the night’s challenges, this Cassville team was determined to get off to a good start.
Hernan Hernandez returned the opening kickoff out to the Cassville 35-yard line, and then the Wildcats went to work. Lance Parnell’s team marched 65 yards in eleven plays to take an early lead. After ten consecutive runs out of the I-formation, Cutter Hicks sneaked the final two yards into the end zone out of the wishbone. Peter Littlefield added the PAT for a 7-0 Cassville lead with 6:29 left in the first quarter.
Littlefield’s kickoff hooked left toward the Cassville sideline, but East Newton’s Matthew Knight fielded the kick and went out of bounds at the 15-yard line. The Patriots struggled through a three-and-out, and Ty Bowman’s punt died at the Cassville 34-yard line.
Hicks rifled a slant to Anthonysz on the right hash, and he jetted away from the defensive backs for a 66-yard touchdown. It was the only pass completion of the night for Hicks. Littlefield converted the PAT kick for a 14-0 lead at the 4:49 mark.
An East Newton punt, a Hicks interception, and a Patriot drive that ended with an incompletion in the end zone saw the score remain 14-0 at the 7:41 mark of the second quarter. The Wildcats drove to the East Newton 28-yard line but a holding call ruined that promising drive and Hernandez punted to the East Newton four-yard line.
Three plays later, Hernandez intercepted a Bowman pass and returned the ball to the East Newton 26-yard line with just 1:48 on the clock. A personal foul advanced the ball down to the eleven. On third down from the five yard line, Hicks crashed into the end zone for his second score of the game. Littlefield split the sticks again for a 21-0 lead with a mere 26 seconds left in the half.
The Wildcats held the Patriots to a three-and-out to open the third quarter, and then embarked on another long scoring drive. This 14-play, 65-yard odyssey saw Keaton Shellenberger attempt a halfback pass on third down from the East Newton 40-yard line. The pass fell incomplete but the Patriots held on the play, giving Cassville new life.
Four plays later, Anthonysz rolled into the end zone from three yards out. Littlefield contributed again for a 28-0 lead with 3:41 left in the quarter.
Knight again fielded a ball destined to go out of bounds, and stepped on the sideline at the East Newton three-yard line.
A first down run by Nathan Every gained only two yards. Then Evey fumbled on the next play and Cassville’s Ethan Lamborn recovered at the East Newton 10-yard line. It took Anthonysz two carries to find the end zone. Littlefield nailed another PAT to give the Wildcats a 35-0 lead and start the running clock with 2:20 still to play in the third quarter.
The fireworks were not over.
Littlefield finally boomed a kickoff down the center of the field. Knight ran up to make the catch but the ball bounced off his pads and Bryson Jacobson recovered for Cassville at the East Newton 25-yard line.
Anthonysz scored from ten yards out on the first play of the final quarter. Then Littlefield finished his perfect night, converting for the sixth time to give Cassville a 42-0 lead.
With clean-jerseyed substitutions pouring in from both sidelines, the Patriots drove 75-yards in 14 plays to get on the scoreboard. Bowman tossed a 13-yard scoring pass to Easton Schrader with 2:16 left in the game. The PAT failed, leaving 42-6 as the final score.
The Wildcats racked up 278 yards of total offense. Cassville running backs gained 212 yards on 40 carries, led by Anthonysz with 111 yards on 22 attempts. Cutter Hicks completed just one of his three pass attempts, the 66-yard catch-and-run touchdown connection to Anthonysz.
The Patriots gained just 171 total yards, with 75 of those on the late scoring drive.
Cassville improved to 3-5 while East Newton slipped to 1-7.
The Wildcats hit the road on Friday night, travelling to Anderson to play the McDonald County Mustangs in the final regular season game. Kickoff is set for 7 PM.
Big 8 scores
• Cassville 42, East Newton 6
• Lamar 41, Seneca 0
• McDonald County 39, Nevada 34
• Aurora 28, Reeds Spring 14
• Rogersville 57, Marshfield 28
• Hollister 38, Mt. Vernon 0
• Monett 24, Springfield Catholic 17
