Lamar, Blair Oaks winners in state football
December 9, 2020
Lee Stubblefield
In the two games of most interest to Cassville Wildcat fans, the Lamar Tigers and the Blair Oaks Falcons claimed MSHSAA championships in Class 2 and Class 3, respectively.
Lamar survived a defensive slugfest, coming from behind to defeat St. Pius X, 6-3.
Even though St. Pius X had negative yardage for much of the game, the Warriors claimed a 3-0 lead in the third quarter with a 40-yard field goal from Joseph Wilson. But Lamar answered quickly, scoring on a 74-yard halfback pass from Joel Beshore to Mason Gastel. The PAT failed, but the Tigers held on to protect the lead and claim their 8th Class 2 state championship.
Lamar, the pride of the Big 8 Conference, won seven consecutive titles under Scott Bailey, and now add another under first-year head coach Jared Beshore.
After putting up 55 points against Cardinal Ritter in a semifinal win, Blair Oaks blitzed Maryville in the Class 3 title game, 62-40.The Falcons scored on their first six possessions to take a 41-20 halftime lead, and then cruised to the victory. After putting up a strong defensive effort against Cassville in the semifinals, Maryville could not stop or even slow down the Blair Oaks scoring juggernaut.
Part of the Class 3 conversation swirled about defending champion Odessa, a team that withdrew from the playoffs due to the pandemic. The undefeated Bulldogs ended the regular season 9-0, but forfeited their district championship game to Summit Christian Academy. SCA then fell to Maryville in the quarterfinals, 35-9, setting up the epic battle between Cassville and Maryville.
In the two games of most interest to Cassville Wildcat fans, the Lamar Tigers and the Blair Oaks Falcons claimed MSHSAA championships in Class 2 and Class 3, respectively.
Lamar survived a defensive slugfest, coming from behind to defeat St. Pius X, 6-3.
Even though St. Pius X had negative yardage for much of the game, the Warriors claimed a 3-0 lead in the third quarter with a 40-yard field goal from Joseph Wilson. But Lamar answered quickly, scoring on a 74-yard halfback pass from Joel Beshore to Mason Gastel. The PAT failed, but the Tigers held on to protect the lead and claim their 8th Class 2 state championship.
Lamar, the pride of the Big 8 Conference, won seven consecutive titles under Scott Bailey, and now add another under first-year head coach Jared Beshore.
After putting up 55 points against Cardinal Ritter in a semifinal win, Blair Oaks blitzed Maryville in the Class 3 title game, 62-40.The Falcons scored on their first six possessions to take a 41-20 halftime lead, and then cruised to the victory. After putting up a strong defensive effort against Cassville in the semifinals, Maryville could not stop or even slow down the Blair Oaks scoring juggernaut.
Part of the Class 3 conversation swirled about defending champion Odessa, a team that withdrew from the playoffs due to the pandemic. The undefeated Bulldogs ended the regular season 9-0, but forfeited their district championship game to Summit Christian Academy. SCA then fell to Maryville in the quarterfinals, 35-9, setting up the epic battle between Cassville and Maryville.