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By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Cassville got its first taste of adversity on Friday night.
The Wildcats passed the test. Emphatically.
After spotting Springfield Catholic an early 14-7 lead, Cassville erupted with 42 unanswered points and cruised to a turbo-clock victory, 49-21.
Running backs Bowen Preddy and Zach Coenen each surpassed 100 yardS on the ground and wide receiver DJ White added two touchdown grabs in the Big 8 West-East matchup.
“We got down, made some mistakes… then we battled back and didn’t drop our heads,” said Cassville coach Lance Parnell. “We kept plugging (away). We played good football from the second quarter on.”
Catholic took advantage of a pair of Cassville fumbles in the first half. The Irish scored touchdowns off both turnovers, including a 28-yard touchdown pass from Will Squibb to Zach Gebhard that gave Catholic its only lead of the game (14-7).
But that play only seemed to anger the Wildcats, who scored touchdowns on their next six possessions. Cassville (2-0) opened the season with a 42-0 home win over Aurora last week.
“We had a good Week 1, but we weren’t quite sure where we were at,” White said. “I think we know where we’re at now.”
The Wildcats hammered a young, undermanned Catholic front all night with a physical, option-run game.
Preddy finished with 120 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. Coenen added 103 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.
“They’re good players,” Parnell said. “They run hard, they block for each other and they compete every snap. I’m really happy they’re on our team.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Said Catholic coach Steve Hancock: “They man-handled us up front. They’re very good. We just got out-physicaled up front.”
Cassville scored three touchdowns in the final six minutes of the first half. White, who also had an interception in the second half, had a dazzling play off a screen catch when he evaded multiple defenders with spin moves and jukes.
He followed that play by catching his second touchdown – with only five seconds remaining in the quarter – to give Cassville a 28-14 lead at halftime.
“I knew that was a turning point,” White said. “I knew we’d pick it up and score a lot of points after that.”
Cassville put the game away quickly in the second half. White’s interception gave Cassville the ball at the Catholic 35.
Five plays later, Preddy put Cassville ahead 35-14 with his third touchdown of the night. Catholic couldn’t muster a rally, going 3-and-out and throwing an interception on its next two possessions.
“I still think we have some areas we need to improve, but I was real proud of the way our kids played up front on both sides of the ball,” Parnell said.
Squibb led Catholic with 150 total yards from scrimmage.
Cassville hosts Barry County rival Monett next week. Catholic (1-1) hosts Hollister.
“We had a lot of kids playing both ways tonight,” Hancock said. “When you’re getting your head beat in, it makes for a tough evening. But I don’t think we had anybody (seriously) hurt, which is a big positive for us.
“We have to make sure we learn from this. If it’s going to happen, I’m glad it happened early in the year rather than late in the year.”
Cassville 49, Catholic 21
Cassville 7 21 21 0 — 49
Catholic 0 14 0 7 — 21
First quarter
Cassville – Preddy 10 run (Reese kick)
Second quarter
Catholic – Schmittling 5 run (Crain kick)
Catholic – Gebhard 28 catch from Squibb (Crain kick)
Cassville – White 21 catch from Bates (Reese kick)
Cassville – Preddy 17 run (Reese kick)
Cassville – White 9 catch from Bates (Reese kick)
Third quarter
Cassville – Preddy 3 run (Reese kick)
Cassville – Coenen 2 run (Reese kick)
Cassville – Bates 5 run (Reese kick)
Fourth quarter
Catholic – O’Reilly 35 catch from Squibb (Crain kick)
Unofficial stat leaders
CASSVILLE
Passing: Bates 5-for-8 for 73 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing: Preddy 20 carries for 132 yards, 3 TDs; Coenen 12 carries for 103 yards, 1 TD
Receiving: White 4 catches for 63 yards, 2 TDs
CATHOLIC
Passing: Squibb 5-for-11 for 98 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTs
Rushing: Squibb 13 carries for 52 yards; Schmittling 7 carries for 40 yards, 1 TD
Receiving: Gebhard 3 catches for 48 yards, 1 TD; O’Reilly 1 catch for 35 yards, 1 TD
Turnovers: Catholic 2, Cassville 2
