Wildcats withstand Nevada comeback bid
September 16, 2020
Lee Stubblefield
The Cassville Wildcats improved to 2-1 on the season with a 47-28 victory at Nevada on Friday night. Jericho Farris led Cassville with 199 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns in a game punctuated by big plays from both teams.
The longest road trip of the regular season brought a big test for Lance Parnell’s Wildcats. The Nevada Tigers won their first two contests with impressive performances, a 38-26 victory at Rogersville and a 31-6 home win over Hollister. Much like the Carl Junction teams of old, Nevada has had good players over the years but has under-achieved as a team. Now, it looks like the Tigers are learning how to play winning football.
With all that said, Cassville entered this game as a rare underdog. Not a label that Wildcat fans are used to, but you are what your record says you are.
The game was billed as a clash of conflicting styles. The Wildcats relied almost exclusively on Jericho Farris in their first two games. The Tigers, with a big offensive line and an experienced stable of running backs, showed a multifaceted attack in their two wins.
Wildcats roar.
Cassville took the opening kickoff and jumped in front early. On the third play of the initial drive, Cutter Hicks kept off left tackle, then executed a last second option pitch to Farris. Taking the toss in full stride, Farris blazed down the left sideline for a 58-yard score.
Three plays. Sixty four yards. Eighty eight seconds. Boom.
Drake Reese drilled the first PAT of the game before many fans had found their seats as the Wildcats jumped in front, 7-0.
But Nevada answered with an 80-yard drive. Caden Denney scored on a 20-yard jet sweep on 4th-and-8 to finish an 11-play drive. Then the Tigers added two points out of the swinging gate formation to claim an 8-7 lead with 5 minutes left in the quarter.
Cassville came right back. On the third play of this drive, Hicks launched a bomb over the secondary to Reese for a 51-yard gain to the Nevada 10-yard line. Farris scored with a 6-yard run to put the ‘Cats back in front. A missed extra point left the lead at 13-8 with 2:38 on the first quarter clock.
Defensive adjustments helped Cassville hold Nevada to a three-and-out on the next possession. Then another great read and pitch by Hicks on the option created a 41-yard Farris run down to the Nevada 19-yard line. Hicks finished off this six-play drive with a one-yard sneak on the fourth flay of the second quarter. Reese converted the PAT as the Wildcats opened a 20-8 lead at the 10:21 mark.
Nevada drove to the Cassville 27-yard line, but the Wildcats swarmed Denney for a loss on 4th down to douse the drive.
The Cassville offense took over possession with 6:08 left in the half. A methodical 13-play scoring drive burned all but 33 seconds off the clock, as the lead swelled to 27-8.
The Wildcats unveiled the Wildcat formation late in the drive. On 3rd and 9 at the Nevada 24-yard line, Hicks went in motion out of the back field and Farris ran 9 yards for a first down with a direct snap against the confused Nevada defense.
Next play, same thing. Hicks exited the quarterback spot, and Reese burst 15 yards off left tackle with a direct snap to extend the lead.
Reese’s PAT was the last point scored in the first half, as Cassville took a commanding 27-8 lead at the break.
That lead would grow midway through the third quarter. Killian Barbee recovered a fumble at the Nevada 34-yard line to set up a short -field scoring drive. Hicks drilled a pass to Reese for 26 yards, then Farris cut back on a sweep to find the end zone. Reese’s kick was blocked, but the Cassville lead stood at 33-8 with 6:17 left in the quarter.
The scoreboard heated up.
Dylan Beachler found Denney for a 75-yard catch-and-run to the Cassville 3-yard line, then scored on a quarterback keeper to cut the lead to 33-14.
Cassville responded with a six-play drive. Hicks found the seam in the Nevada zone, hitting Reese in stride on the slant pattern for a 58-yard touchdown. Reese’s PAT gave Cassville a comfortable 40-14 lead with 2:22 left in the quarter.
Tigers answer.
But that lead dwindled immediately when Eli Cheaney returned Reese’s short kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. A successful 2-point try cut the lead to 40-22.
A fatigued Farris watched from the sideline as his Wildcats struggled through a three-and-out possession. Reese’s punt on the final play of the third quarter pushed the Nevada offense 85 yards away from a score.
Those yards disappeared fast. Sanderson ran for 19. Cheaney followed with a 44-yard dazzle, Denney gained 7, and Beachler kept for 9 down to the Cassville 6-yard line. Then Sanderson found the end zone to cut the lead to 40-28 with ten minutes left to play.
The defense stands.
With momentum clearly on their side, the Tigers recovered the onside kick at the Cassville 47-yard line. The beleaguered Cassville defense faced its biggest test of the game.
On first down, a bobble in the backfield led to Denney losing three yards. Then Joston Miller and Jaiden Reibert combined to sack Beachler for a 7-yard loss. Denney gained 7 yards on a jet sweep on third down, but the Tigers still needed 13 yards with 4th down looming.
Nevada had to roll the dice. Trailing by two scores with just eight minutes remaining, the Tigers would concede the game if they punted to Cassville’s ball control offense.
Beachler handed to Cheaney running right, and he pulled up and launched a halfback pass for Denney deep in the Cassville secondary.
Incomplete.
Cassville took over at midfield, and Farris returned to the backfield to spark the offense. Farris carried 5 times on an 8-play drive, adding a fourth touchdown to his game resume’ with a 2-yard plunge. Reese converted the PAT to reach the final score of 47-28 with 3:23 remaining.
Stats
Jericho Farris carried the Wildcats with 199 rushing yards on 18 carries, and four touchdowns.
Cutter Hicks completed 4 of 6 throws for 147 yards and a touchdown, as the Wildcats showed vast improvement in the passing game.
Cassville rolled up 426 total yards in the game versus 358 for Nevada.
Week 4
After three weeks, Mt. Vernon is the only undefeated team in the Big 8.
Cassville, one of seven Big 8 schools with a 2-1 record, hits the road again on Friday night, making the long trek to Rogersville. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Big 8 scores
• Mt. Vernon 28, Reeds Spring 10
• Cassville 47, Nevada 28
• Rogersville 28, Aurora 6
• Marshfield 49, Springfield Catholic 39
• Monett 21, East Newton 20 (OT)
• McDonald County 42, Lamar 41
• Hollister 14, Seneca 12
Big 8 standings
• Mt. Vernon 3-0
• Cassville 2-1
• Rogersville 2-1
• Lamar 2-1
• Aurora 2-1
• Nevada 2-1
• McDonald County 2-1
• Monett 2-1
• Marshfield 1-2
• Hollister 1-2
Seneca 1-2
Reeds Spring 1-2
East Newton 0-3
Springfield Catholic 0-3
The Cassville Wildcats improved to 2-1 on the season with a 47-28 victory at Nevada on Friday night. Jericho Farris led Cassville with 199 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns in a game punctuated by big plays from both teams.
The longest road trip of the regular season brought a big test for Lance Parnell’s Wildcats. The Nevada Tigers won their first two contests with impressive performances, a 38-26 victory at Rogersville and a 31-6 home win over Hollister. Much like the Carl Junction teams of old, Nevada has had good players over the years but has under-achieved as a team. Now, it looks like the Tigers are learning how to play winning football.
With all that said, Cassville entered this game as a rare underdog. Not a label that Wildcat fans are used to, but you are what your record says you are.
The game was billed as a clash of conflicting styles. The Wildcats relied almost exclusively on Jericho Farris in their first two games. The Tigers, with a big offensive line and an experienced stable of running backs, showed a multifaceted attack in their two wins.
Wildcats roar.
Cassville took the opening kickoff and jumped in front early. On the third play of the initial drive, Cutter Hicks kept off left tackle, then executed a last second option pitch to Farris. Taking the toss in full stride, Farris blazed down the left sideline for a 58-yard score.
Three plays. Sixty four yards. Eighty eight seconds. Boom.
Drake Reese drilled the first PAT of the game before many fans had found their seats as the Wildcats jumped in front, 7-0.
But Nevada answered with an 80-yard drive. Caden Denney scored on a 20-yard jet sweep on 4th-and-8 to finish an 11-play drive. Then the Tigers added two points out of the swinging gate formation to claim an 8-7 lead with 5 minutes left in the quarter.
Cassville came right back. On the third play of this drive, Hicks launched a bomb over the secondary to Reese for a 51-yard gain to the Nevada 10-yard line. Farris scored with a 6-yard run to put the ‘Cats back in front. A missed extra point left the lead at 13-8 with 2:38 on the first quarter clock.
Defensive adjustments helped Cassville hold Nevada to a three-and-out on the next possession. Then another great read and pitch by Hicks on the option created a 41-yard Farris run down to the Nevada 19-yard line. Hicks finished off this six-play drive with a one-yard sneak on the fourth flay of the second quarter. Reese converted the PAT as the Wildcats opened a 20-8 lead at the 10:21 mark.
Nevada drove to the Cassville 27-yard line, but the Wildcats swarmed Denney for a loss on 4th down to douse the drive.
The Cassville offense took over possession with 6:08 left in the half. A methodical 13-play scoring drive burned all but 33 seconds off the clock, as the lead swelled to 27-8.
The Wildcats unveiled the Wildcat formation late in the drive. On 3rd and 9 at the Nevada 24-yard line, Hicks went in motion out of the back field and Farris ran 9 yards for a first down with a direct snap against the confused Nevada defense.
Next play, same thing. Hicks exited the quarterback spot, and Reese burst 15 yards off left tackle with a direct snap to extend the lead.
Reese’s PAT was the last point scored in the first half, as Cassville took a commanding 27-8 lead at the break.
That lead would grow midway through the third quarter. Killian Barbee recovered a fumble at the Nevada 34-yard line to set up a short -field scoring drive. Hicks drilled a pass to Reese for 26 yards, then Farris cut back on a sweep to find the end zone. Reese’s kick was blocked, but the Cassville lead stood at 33-8 with 6:17 left in the quarter.
The scoreboard heated up.
Dylan Beachler found Denney for a 75-yard catch-and-run to the Cassville 3-yard line, then scored on a quarterback keeper to cut the lead to 33-14.
Cassville responded with a six-play drive. Hicks found the seam in the Nevada zone, hitting Reese in stride on the slant pattern for a 58-yard touchdown. Reese’s PAT gave Cassville a comfortable 40-14 lead with 2:22 left in the quarter.
Tigers answer.
But that lead dwindled immediately when Eli Cheaney returned Reese’s short kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. A successful 2-point try cut the lead to 40-22.
A fatigued Farris watched from the sideline as his Wildcats struggled through a three-and-out possession. Reese’s punt on the final play of the third quarter pushed the Nevada offense 85 yards away from a score.
Those yards disappeared fast. Sanderson ran for 19. Cheaney followed with a 44-yard dazzle, Denney gained 7, and Beachler kept for 9 down to the Cassville 6-yard line. Then Sanderson found the end zone to cut the lead to 40-28 with ten minutes left to play.
The defense stands.
With momentum clearly on their side, the Tigers recovered the onside kick at the Cassville 47-yard line. The beleaguered Cassville defense faced its biggest test of the game.
On first down, a bobble in the backfield led to Denney losing three yards. Then Joston Miller and Jaiden Reibert combined to sack Beachler for a 7-yard loss. Denney gained 7 yards on a jet sweep on third down, but the Tigers still needed 13 yards with 4th down looming.
Nevada had to roll the dice. Trailing by two scores with just eight minutes remaining, the Tigers would concede the game if they punted to Cassville’s ball control offense.
Beachler handed to Cheaney running right, and he pulled up and launched a halfback pass for Denney deep in the Cassville secondary.
Incomplete.
Cassville took over at midfield, and Farris returned to the backfield to spark the offense. Farris carried 5 times on an 8-play drive, adding a fourth touchdown to his game resume’ with a 2-yard plunge. Reese converted the PAT to reach the final score of 47-28 with 3:23 remaining.
Stats
Jericho Farris carried the Wildcats with 199 rushing yards on 18 carries, and four touchdowns.
Cutter Hicks completed 4 of 6 throws for 147 yards and a touchdown, as the Wildcats showed vast improvement in the passing game.
Cassville rolled up 426 total yards in the game versus 358 for Nevada.
Week 4
After three weeks, Mt. Vernon is the only undefeated team in the Big 8.
Cassville, one of seven Big 8 schools with a 2-1 record, hits the road again on Friday night, making the long trek to Rogersville. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Big 8 scores
• Mt. Vernon 28, Reeds Spring 10
• Cassville 47, Nevada 28
• Rogersville 28, Aurora 6
• Marshfield 49, Springfield Catholic 39
• Monett 21, East Newton 20 (OT)
• McDonald County 42, Lamar 41
• Hollister 14, Seneca 12
Big 8 standings
• Mt. Vernon 3-0
• Cassville 2-1
• Rogersville 2-1
• Lamar 2-1
• Aurora 2-1
• Nevada 2-1
• McDonald County 2-1
• Monett 2-1
• Marshfield 1-2
• Hollister 1-2
Seneca 1-2
Reeds Spring 1-2
East Newton 0-3
Springfield Catholic 0-3
