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Cassville finished 8-3 in 2016 with all three losses (Monett twice and Lamar once) coming to eventual state champions.
The Wildcats lose the biggest weapon on their offense in second-team all-state running back River Phelps. He had 200 carries for 1,700 yards and 27 touchdowns last season. Phelps also served as the kicker where he was 40-for-43 on extra points.
“River was a huge part of our offense,” Cassville head coach Lance Parnell said. “We will look to be more balanced this year and spread the ball around. River leaves a big hole that we will look to several players to full this season.”
Also gone is first-team all-state offensive lineman Devin Phelps who is now playing football for Missouri Southern.
Five starters return for Cassville on offense, led by three offensive linemen in senior Hunter Bailey and juniors Mason Hendrix and Jesus Perez. Seniors Caleb Lucero and Grant Davis along with juniors Jacob Anderson and Jacob Beaulieu will also be factors on the offensive line.
Quarterback Shannon Haney is back for his junior season after throwing for 447 yards and rushing for 328 yards as a sophomore. Tight end Austin Sanders rounds out the returning offensive starters.
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Seniors Trey Dalton, Jordan Reed and Dalton O’Neill along with juniors Blake Gordon, Jose Melchor and Jose Melcher with sophomore DJ White will be factors at receiver this season.
Expect juniors Logan Carlin and Michael Hunter to see carries in the backfield.
Seniors Braden Strahan and Garret Knight return to start in the secondary at safety. Strahan led the Wildcats with 57 total tackles last season. Knight was just behind with 54 tackles along with two interceptions. Rainey, White and Gordon along with Austun Periman are candidates to play in the secondary as well.
Senior Wyatt Goade and junior Anthony Tolbert return to the middle of the defense at linebacker after tallying 38 and 42 tackles, respectively, last year. Reed, O’Neill, Carlin and Hunter also could see time at linebacker.
Zach Burton will anchor the defensive line in his junior season after starting all 11 games last year. Fellow junior Evan Kessinger is also back at defensive end after starting nine of 11 games last season.
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The new starters will have to step up and be ready to play quickly if the Wildcats are to compete in the Big 8.
“We return several players that have quality experience over the last couple of years. We will have some important holes to fill on both sides of the ball,” Parnell said. “Our senior Leadership was very good last season. How we fill that role this year will be key to our success. Each week in our conference is a key matchup. You must be ready to play each and every week. I see the Big 8 as a whole being much better this season.”
Cassville opens its season on Aug. 18 at home against six-time defending Class 2 Champion Lamar.
