Cassville to host Mt. Vernon in season opener
Cassville Wildcat running back, Ethan Fuchs (#22), plows through Willard Tigers’ defenses, with Wildcat offensive lineman, Michael Morgan (#53) on guard, during Friday’s fall jamboree in Springfield. Photo by Priscilla Craig.
August 25, 2021
Lee Stubblefield
Summer practice, check. Camp, check. Jamboree, check. Game on.
A year after a senior-laden lineup propelled the Cassville Wildcats to the Class 3 semifinals, Coach Lance Parnell and his staff face a monumental rebuilding task. Cassville’s annual motto of “reload, not rebuild” will be sorely tested in the 2021 season. Hernan Hernandez, a junior safety, is the only returning full time starter from last season.
Keaton Schellenburger, another junior, recorded 35 tackles while starting four varsity games last year.
Quarterback? Senior Cutter Hicks was smooth and poised while replacing Hayden Sink for two starts last season. He is the heir to the Cassville quarterback mantle, a mantle held by a different Wildcat for the fourth straight season.
Ethan Fuchs brings experience to the running backs corps, and Christian Tidwell leads the line prospects with three starts last year.
Cassville has the benefit of five home games this year, with three of those coming in the first four weeks. Home field advantage could be critical as the Wildcats work through early growing pains. In the always tough Big 8 Conference, there are no gimmes.
Cassville opens the season on Friday, August 27, hosting Mt. Vernon in a Big 8 crossover game. The Wildcats have suffered just seven defeats in the past three years, and two of those were to the Mountaineers. Players from the 1985-1989 Cassville teams will be recognized before the game on Alumni Football Night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Lee Stubblefield
Summer practice, check. Camp, check. Jamboree, check. Game on.
A year after a senior-laden lineup propelled the Cassville Wildcats to the Class 3 semifinals, Coach Lance Parnell and his staff face a monumental rebuilding task. Cassville’s annual motto of “reload, not rebuild” will be sorely tested in the 2021 season. Hernan Hernandez, a junior safety, is the only returning full time starter from last season.
Keaton Schellenburger, another junior, recorded 35 tackles while starting four varsity games last year.
Quarterback? Senior Cutter Hicks was smooth and poised while replacing Hayden Sink for two starts last season. He is the heir to the Cassville quarterback mantle, a mantle held by a different Wildcat for the fourth straight season.
Ethan Fuchs brings experience to the running backs corps, and Christian Tidwell leads the line prospects with three starts last year.
Cassville has the benefit of five home games this year, with three of those coming in the first four weeks. Home field advantage could be critical as the Wildcats work through early growing pains. In the always tough Big 8 Conference, there are no gimmes.
Cassville opens the season on Friday, August 27, hosting Mt. Vernon in a Big 8 crossover game. The Wildcats have suffered just seven defeats in the past three years, and two of those were to the Mountaineers. Players from the 1985-1989 Cassville teams will be recognized before the game on Alumni Football Night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.