Cassville Downs Aurora in Home Opener, 42-14
September 7, 2022
Lee Stubblefield
The Aurora Houn Dawgs scored the first and last touchdowns on Friday night, but those were only bookends to Cassville’s extensive offensive library. The Wildcats scored on six consecutive first half possessions to claim a 42-14 victory in their home opener. After a shaky three-and-out to open the game, the big play Wildcats shook off Aurora’s early score and shredded the Dawgs’ defense to claim a 42-7 halftime lead. Aurora’s second touchdown late in the third quarter sewed up the scoring.
With two weeks of football in the books, the Big 8 has quickly divided into the haves and have nots. The haves? Five. Lamar, Mt. Vernon, Nevada, and Seneca join Cassville at 2-0. The winless? Also five. Monett, Aurora, Marshfield, East Newton, and Springfield Catholic. Then there are four 1-1 bubble teams: McDonald County, Hollister, Reeds Spring, and Rogersville.
Week 3 will go a long way toward separating the contenders from the pretenders. Cassville’s domination of Aurora on Friday night has the Wildcats in that top tier conversation.
Game summary
Aurora’s Kelton Brown gave his team the early lead with a 35-yard quarterback draw at the 8:22 mark of the first quarter. But it was all Cassville after that.
Bryson Jacobson pulled the Cats even with a one-yard plunge to finish off a 60-yard drive on the next possession. Peter Littlefield nailed the PAT for a 7-7 tie at the 5:51 mark.
Two plays later, Hernan Hernandez picked off Brown at the Cassville 38-yard line. Bodee Rose then found Trey Wilson down the left hash for a 67-yard catch and run touchdown. Littlefield scored again as Cassville took a 14-7 lead with 5:15 on the clock.
Cassville’s defense forced a punt to end the quarter. On the first play of the second quarter, Jacobson broke outside, tightroped the Cassville sideline, and flew to the north end zone for a 55-yard touchdown run and a 21-7 lead.
Another Aurora punt gave the Wildcats good field position at their own 43-yard line. On third down, Cassville dusted off the double reverse, halfback pass play. Riley Ruark pegged a long throw to a wide open Garrett Ewing for a 54-yard score and a 28-7 lead with 9:42 left before half.
More fireworks would follow.
Aurora punted the Wildcats deep at their own 17-yard line. Three plays and 17 yards later, Rose kept off right tackle, broke to the sideline, and sprinted 66 yards for another Cassville score. Littlefield added his fifth PAT for a 35-7 score with 6:02 on the clock.
Things went from bad to worse for Aurora. Alex Dewitt could not handle a poor snap on 4th and 21, and the Wildcats swarmed the punter at the Aurora 7-yard line. Wilson squeezed into the end zone on second down, and Cassville extended the lead to 42-7.
With the mercy clock fast forwarding the third quarter, Brown threw long to Jax Prater for a 43-yard touchdown at the 2:37 mark. That established the final score of 42-14.
Game notes/stats
Cassville gained 376 total yards against Aurora. Trey Wilson led the Cassville rushing corps with 88 yards and a touchdown, Bodee Rose rushed for 76 yards and a touchdown, and Bryson Jacobson ran for 75 yards and two touchdowns.
The Wildcats completed 3 of 6 tosses for 134 yards and a pair of touchdowns for Wilson and Garrett Ewing.
The Cassville defense limited Aurora to just 217 total yards. Aurora has not defeated Cassville since 2004.
Both Cassville and Aurora entered the season with new head coaches. Clay Weldy is now 2-0. Brandon Pitts, the former West Plains defensive coordinator, is 0-2.
The Wildcats face a real test this week when they host the undefeated Seneca Indians in the second of four home games on the schedule. Seneca defeated Aurora 44-8 in week 1, then destroyed Springfield Catholic 65-0. Kickoff is set for 7PM on Friday night.
The Aurora Houn Dawgs scored the first and last touchdowns on Friday night, but those were only bookends to Cassville’s extensive offensive library. The Wildcats scored on six consecutive first half possessions to claim a 42-14 victory in their home opener. After a shaky three-and-out to open the game, the big play Wildcats shook off Aurora’s early score and shredded the Dawgs’ defense to claim a 42-7 halftime lead. Aurora’s second touchdown late in the third quarter sewed up the scoring.
With two weeks of football in the books, the Big 8 has quickly divided into the haves and have nots. The haves? Five. Lamar, Mt. Vernon, Nevada, and Seneca join Cassville at 2-0. The winless? Also five. Monett, Aurora, Marshfield, East Newton, and Springfield Catholic. Then there are four 1-1 bubble teams: McDonald County, Hollister, Reeds Spring, and Rogersville.
Week 3 will go a long way toward separating the contenders from the pretenders. Cassville’s domination of Aurora on Friday night has the Wildcats in that top tier conversation.
Game summary
Aurora’s Kelton Brown gave his team the early lead with a 35-yard quarterback draw at the 8:22 mark of the first quarter. But it was all Cassville after that.
Bryson Jacobson pulled the Cats even with a one-yard plunge to finish off a 60-yard drive on the next possession. Peter Littlefield nailed the PAT for a 7-7 tie at the 5:51 mark.
Two plays later, Hernan Hernandez picked off Brown at the Cassville 38-yard line. Bodee Rose then found Trey Wilson down the left hash for a 67-yard catch and run touchdown. Littlefield scored again as Cassville took a 14-7 lead with 5:15 on the clock.
Cassville’s defense forced a punt to end the quarter. On the first play of the second quarter, Jacobson broke outside, tightroped the Cassville sideline, and flew to the north end zone for a 55-yard touchdown run and a 21-7 lead.
Another Aurora punt gave the Wildcats good field position at their own 43-yard line. On third down, Cassville dusted off the double reverse, halfback pass play. Riley Ruark pegged a long throw to a wide open Garrett Ewing for a 54-yard score and a 28-7 lead with 9:42 left before half.
More fireworks would follow.
Aurora punted the Wildcats deep at their own 17-yard line. Three plays and 17 yards later, Rose kept off right tackle, broke to the sideline, and sprinted 66 yards for another Cassville score. Littlefield added his fifth PAT for a 35-7 score with 6:02 on the clock.
Things went from bad to worse for Aurora. Alex Dewitt could not handle a poor snap on 4th and 21, and the Wildcats swarmed the punter at the Aurora 7-yard line. Wilson squeezed into the end zone on second down, and Cassville extended the lead to 42-7.
With the mercy clock fast forwarding the third quarter, Brown threw long to Jax Prater for a 43-yard touchdown at the 2:37 mark. That established the final score of 42-14.
Game notes/stats
Cassville gained 376 total yards against Aurora. Trey Wilson led the Cassville rushing corps with 88 yards and a touchdown, Bodee Rose rushed for 76 yards and a touchdown, and Bryson Jacobson ran for 75 yards and two touchdowns.
The Wildcats completed 3 of 6 tosses for 134 yards and a pair of touchdowns for Wilson and Garrett Ewing.
The Cassville defense limited Aurora to just 217 total yards. Aurora has not defeated Cassville since 2004.
Both Cassville and Aurora entered the season with new head coaches. Clay Weldy is now 2-0. Brandon Pitts, the former West Plains defensive coordinator, is 0-2.
The Wildcats face a real test this week when they host the undefeated Seneca Indians in the second of four home games on the schedule. Seneca defeated Aurora 44-8 in week 1, then destroyed Springfield Catholic 65-0. Kickoff is set for 7PM on Friday night.