Wildcats survived challenge from Marshfield Bluejays
September 9, 2020
Cassville's Ethan Fuchs brings down Marshfield's Daylon Kanengieter with a little help in Friday night action at Wildcat Stadium. Photo by Priscilla Craig.
Lee Stubblefield
The home opener was a struggle, but in the end the Cassville Wildcats survived against the Marshfield Bluejays, 22-20.
Nobody wants to start 0-2.
Nobody wants to admit that a week 2 game is a must-win situation.
But in the ultra-competitive Big 8 Conference, where the top teams predictably advance deep into the playoffs, going 0-2 out of the gate can leave a team in a hopeless chase for the rest of the season. The Big 8 schedule is a true gauntlet for most teams. To be successful, you have to beat good teams and avoid the upsets.
So after dropping a 21-13 decision to Mt. Vernon in week 1, the Cassville Wildcats were feeling the pressure for their home opener against the Marshfield Bluejays. Likewise, Marshfield sought to avoid the 0-2 mantle after a 34-30 opening loss to Seneca.
Early lead
The Wildcats, missing two key offensive threats in Zach Coenen and Hayden Sink, handed the quarterback reins to junior Cutter Hicks for his first varsity start. After the defense held Marshfield on downs to start the contest, Hicks fed the ball to Jericho Farris 11 times in a 14-play drive. Farris knifed into the endzone for the final 2 yards, and Cassville claimed a 7-0 lead with just 55 seconds left in the opening quarter.
7-7 tie
Marshfield would answer quickly. Senior running back Daylon Kanengieter, a load at 5-10 and 220, burned the Cassville defense with a 66-yard scoring rumble as the Bluejays knotted the score at 7-7 with a 3-play, 40-second drive.
The Wildcats reached the red zone on the following possession, but Marshfield recovered a fumbled pitch to thwart the scoring threat. The Wildcats had one more chance for a halftime lead, but Drake Reese’s 48-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left. The teams left the field with the score still 7-7.
Halftime adjustments
Jericho Farris ran for 93 yards in an exhausting first half, at a pace that was seemingly unsustainable for the entire game. The Cassville coaches made some key adjustments at halftime, and the Wildcats benefitted immediately when the third quarter started.
Cutter Hicks operated as a game manager in the first half, feeding Farris on nearly every play. On this drive, Hicks gained significant yardage running the option as the Jays ganged up to stop Farris. Three quarterback runs in a 9-play drive gave Cassville a more balanced attack, and Farris finished the drive with a 4-yard toss sweep. The Wildcats moved back in front, 14-7, with 7:39 left in the quarter.
Marshfield made some halftime adjustments too. Just like the Wildcats featured Hicks in a scoring drive, the Bluejays showed off the arm of sophomore quarterback Bryant Bull in a 9-play drive. Bull completed passes of 8 and 3 yards to lead Marshfield into Cassville territory. Then Bull launched a 38-yard scoring bomb to Blake Anderson as the Bluejays tied the game at 14-14.
déjà vu
Déjà vu, the french term for “already seen,” was an apt description for this turn of events.
A 38-yard scoring pass at Mt. Vernon ruined Cassville’s hopes in week 1. Would another lead to a crushing home loss and an 0-2 start?
The Wildcats took the field and Farris led the offense on a long march to retake the lead.
Eight plays. Sixty five yards. Along the way, Farris passed the 150-yard rushing plateau. But it was Ethan Fuchs who scored the go ahead touchdown, on a 12-yard carry through the heart of the Marshfield defense.
Turning point
Then the Bluejays jumped offsides on the PAT attempt, and Lance Parnell immediately sent the offense out to try for 2 points with the shortened distance. Farris followed the wishbone blockers into the line and wedged into the endzone to give Cassville a 22-14 lead with just 4 seconds left in the quarter.
Key stop
Marshfield came right back. Bull delivered a long strike to Anderson at the Cassville 27-yard line. Five plays later, Kanengieter plowed into the endzone on a 10-yard run to cut the lead to 22-20.
With just 8:47 left to play and trailing by a deuce, Marshfield was compelled to go for the tie. But Garrett Kritz sacked Bull with the biggest defensive play of the day, and Cassville still held a 22-20 lead.
Tense moments followed.
The Wildcats fumbled just across midfield, but Marshfield wasted the opportunity with a no-gain run, a penalty, and two incompletions. The Jays had to punt on 4th and 15.
Clock burner
The Wildcats then went on a long drive that reached the Marshfield 35-yard line. More importantly, the game clock dwindled from 6:00 to 1:24. Then Kyle Jones elected to fair catch Reese’s rainbow punt at the Marshfield 4-yard line.
Reese sealed the game, intercepting Bull on the third play of the desperation drive.
Hicks genuflected twice in the victory formation, and Cassville claimed a hard fought 22-20 victory.
Stats
Both teams displayed power running games.
Marshfield backs carried 25 times for 188 yards. Kanengieter had 24 of those attempts for 187 yards and two touchdowns.
Farris paced Cassville with a monster game, totaling 193 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries. The Wildcats had a team rushing total of 280 yards on 55 carries.
Road Trip
The Wildcats hit the road for their next two contests. Next up is the long journey to Nevada to face the undefeated Tigers on Friday night. Kickoff is set for 7 PM.
Big 8 scores
• Mt. Vernon 49, East Newton 28
• Lamar 27, Reeds Spring 23
• Cassville 22, Marshfield 20
• Rogersville 37, Seneca 15
• Aurora 22, Monett 7
• Nevada 31, Hollister 6
• McDonald County 35, Springfield Catholic 19
Big 8 standings
Mt. Vernon, 2-0; Lamar, 2-0;
Aurora, 2-0; Nevada, 2-0; Cassville, 1-1; Seneca, 1-1; Monett, 1-1; Rogersville, 1-1
Reeds Spring, 1-1; McDonald County 1-1; Marshfield, 0-2; Hollister 0-2.
The home opener was a struggle, but in the end the Cassville Wildcats survived against the Marshfield Bluejays, 22-20.
Nobody wants to start 0-2.
Nobody wants to admit that a week 2 game is a must-win situation.
But in the ultra-competitive Big 8 Conference, where the top teams predictably advance deep into the playoffs, going 0-2 out of the gate can leave a team in a hopeless chase for the rest of the season. The Big 8 schedule is a true gauntlet for most teams. To be successful, you have to beat good teams and avoid the upsets.
So after dropping a 21-13 decision to Mt. Vernon in week 1, the Cassville Wildcats were feeling the pressure for their home opener against the Marshfield Bluejays. Likewise, Marshfield sought to avoid the 0-2 mantle after a 34-30 opening loss to Seneca.
Early lead
The Wildcats, missing two key offensive threats in Zach Coenen and Hayden Sink, handed the quarterback reins to junior Cutter Hicks for his first varsity start. After the defense held Marshfield on downs to start the contest, Hicks fed the ball to Jericho Farris 11 times in a 14-play drive. Farris knifed into the endzone for the final 2 yards, and Cassville claimed a 7-0 lead with just 55 seconds left in the opening quarter.
7-7 tie
Marshfield would answer quickly. Senior running back Daylon Kanengieter, a load at 5-10 and 220, burned the Cassville defense with a 66-yard scoring rumble as the Bluejays knotted the score at 7-7 with a 3-play, 40-second drive.
The Wildcats reached the red zone on the following possession, but Marshfield recovered a fumbled pitch to thwart the scoring threat. The Wildcats had one more chance for a halftime lead, but Drake Reese’s 48-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left. The teams left the field with the score still 7-7.
Halftime adjustments
Jericho Farris ran for 93 yards in an exhausting first half, at a pace that was seemingly unsustainable for the entire game. The Cassville coaches made some key adjustments at halftime, and the Wildcats benefitted immediately when the third quarter started.
Cutter Hicks operated as a game manager in the first half, feeding Farris on nearly every play. On this drive, Hicks gained significant yardage running the option as the Jays ganged up to stop Farris. Three quarterback runs in a 9-play drive gave Cassville a more balanced attack, and Farris finished the drive with a 4-yard toss sweep. The Wildcats moved back in front, 14-7, with 7:39 left in the quarter.
Marshfield made some halftime adjustments too. Just like the Wildcats featured Hicks in a scoring drive, the Bluejays showed off the arm of sophomore quarterback Bryant Bull in a 9-play drive. Bull completed passes of 8 and 3 yards to lead Marshfield into Cassville territory. Then Bull launched a 38-yard scoring bomb to Blake Anderson as the Bluejays tied the game at 14-14.
déjà vu
Déjà vu, the french term for “already seen,” was an apt description for this turn of events.
A 38-yard scoring pass at Mt. Vernon ruined Cassville’s hopes in week 1. Would another lead to a crushing home loss and an 0-2 start?
The Wildcats took the field and Farris led the offense on a long march to retake the lead.
Eight plays. Sixty five yards. Along the way, Farris passed the 150-yard rushing plateau. But it was Ethan Fuchs who scored the go ahead touchdown, on a 12-yard carry through the heart of the Marshfield defense.
Turning point
Then the Bluejays jumped offsides on the PAT attempt, and Lance Parnell immediately sent the offense out to try for 2 points with the shortened distance. Farris followed the wishbone blockers into the line and wedged into the endzone to give Cassville a 22-14 lead with just 4 seconds left in the quarter.
Key stop
Marshfield came right back. Bull delivered a long strike to Anderson at the Cassville 27-yard line. Five plays later, Kanengieter plowed into the endzone on a 10-yard run to cut the lead to 22-20.
With just 8:47 left to play and trailing by a deuce, Marshfield was compelled to go for the tie. But Garrett Kritz sacked Bull with the biggest defensive play of the day, and Cassville still held a 22-20 lead.
Tense moments followed.
The Wildcats fumbled just across midfield, but Marshfield wasted the opportunity with a no-gain run, a penalty, and two incompletions. The Jays had to punt on 4th and 15.
Clock burner
The Wildcats then went on a long drive that reached the Marshfield 35-yard line. More importantly, the game clock dwindled from 6:00 to 1:24. Then Kyle Jones elected to fair catch Reese’s rainbow punt at the Marshfield 4-yard line.
Reese sealed the game, intercepting Bull on the third play of the desperation drive.
Hicks genuflected twice in the victory formation, and Cassville claimed a hard fought 22-20 victory.
Stats
Both teams displayed power running games.
Marshfield backs carried 25 times for 188 yards. Kanengieter had 24 of those attempts for 187 yards and two touchdowns.
Farris paced Cassville with a monster game, totaling 193 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries. The Wildcats had a team rushing total of 280 yards on 55 carries.
Road Trip
The Wildcats hit the road for their next two contests. Next up is the long journey to Nevada to face the undefeated Tigers on Friday night. Kickoff is set for 7 PM.
Big 8 scores
• Mt. Vernon 49, East Newton 28
• Lamar 27, Reeds Spring 23
• Cassville 22, Marshfield 20
• Rogersville 37, Seneca 15
• Aurora 22, Monett 7
• Nevada 31, Hollister 6
• McDonald County 35, Springfield Catholic 19
Big 8 standings
Mt. Vernon, 2-0; Lamar, 2-0;
Aurora, 2-0; Nevada, 2-0; Cassville, 1-1; Seneca, 1-1; Monett, 1-1; Rogersville, 1-1
Reeds Spring, 1-1; McDonald County 1-1; Marshfield, 0-2; Hollister 0-2.
