By Chad Hayworth (for Ozarkssportszone.com)
MONETT – Trailing by 14, Monett scored twice in the fourth quarter, including a touchdown pass from quarterback Dylan Washick to Miles Young as time expired Friday night.
But it wasn’t enough.
Needing a two-point conversion to send the game to overtime, Washick hit senior Alex Meeks on a short inside pass. Meeks was immediately hit by a swarm of Cassville defenders, just short of the goal line, sealing a Wildcat win.
Cassville’s 48-46 victory gives the Wildcats a third-straight win in the annual Barry County Brawl.
“They bring constant pressure,” Cassville Coach Clay Weldy said. “I was proud of our kids, that they found a way to get out of that two-point conversion.
“Both teams really want to win this game. We’re so close together. A lot of Cassville people work in Monett and vice versa. So there is a lot of commonality.”
Cassville was able to capitalize on takeaways with interceptions in each half returning both for touchdowns.
“We can’t have turnovers,” said Monett Coach Ben Mauk. “Our kids are playing competitive games against good football teams, and I think we are doing a lot of good things. But we are still making silly mistakes.”
Cassville (5-3 overall, 4-3 Big 8) got on the scoreboard late in the first quarter, capping an eight-play, 77-yard drive with a 37-yard run from sophomore Mace Bredeson, for a 7-0 lead.
Monett answered immediately, when Washick hit Carson Nestleroad for a 73-yard score, followed by a two-point conversion for a 8-7 lead with 11:48 to play in the half.
The Cubs recovered their onside kick attempt, and marched down field on an eight-play drive that culminated in Collin Umfleet’s 1-yard dive into the end zone. Another two-point conversion pushed the Cub lead to 16-7.
But Cassville was ready for the next Cub onside kick, recovering it at midfield. A play later, junior Masin Bryan broke loose and ran 50 yards for a touchdown, cutting the lead to 16-14.
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On the next Cub drive, Cassville’s Tristan Thompson stepped in front of a pass and scampered 58 yard for a touchdown, giving the Wildcats a 21-16 lead with 7:22 to play in the half.
Monett (4-4, 3-4) answered with a 10-play drive capped by Washick’s 27-yard pass to Meeks for a touchdown. A missed conversion left the score 22-21 with 5:47 to play in the half.
The drive also cost the Cubs the service of senior running back Antoine Smith, who was injured after a 5-yard gain. He was helped from the field and did not return.
Cassville again took the lead when quarterback Jared Stearns found Colton Roark for a 31-yard score and a 28-22 lead.
Washick and the Cubs tied the game with a 69-yard pass to Nestleroad with 3:33 to play in the half.
“Their quarterback is a way better player than he was a year ago,” Weldy said. “I was really impressed with Washick.”
Cassville opened the second-half scoring with a second connection between Stearns and Roark, this time for 53 yards and a 34-28 with 8:46 to play in the third quarter.
Monett answered with a 72-yard pass from Washick to Brayden Seitz, tying the game at 34.
Cassville chewed up more than six minutes with a 13-play, 80 yard drive that culminated in Easton Hughes stretching the ball over the goal line from two yards out.
Leading 41-34, Roark picked off a pass in the flat and ran for his third score of the night, giving Cassville a 48-34 lead with a minute to play in the third.
“I think he is all-state caliber player,” Weldy said of his 6-foot-1, 185-pound senior. “All year, he has come through for us with some massive games.”
Monett moved methodically down the field, chewing up nearly half the quarter, before Washick hit Seitz over the middle for a touchdown, pulling the Cubs closer at 48-40.
But another missed two-point conversion (in all Monett missed four on the night) left Monett with work it wasn’t ultimately able to complete.
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Washick finished the night completing 26 of 41 pass attempts for 395 yards, six touchdowns and the two picks. He carried the ball 10 times, but was also sacked several times, leaving his with negative 10 rushing yards.
Umfleet finished with 91-yards rushing and a touchdown for the Cubs, while also catching four passes for 36 yards. Smith had 37 yards rushing on eight attempts, while catching two passes for 10 yards.
Meeks led the Cub receivers with eight catches for 80 yards and a touchdown, while Young pulled in five balls for 26 yards and Nestleroad had three caches for 145 yards and pair of touchdowns. Seitz also caught two touchdowns on four receptions for 99 yards.
Roark led the Wildcats with 135 yards receiving and two touchdowns, while also rushing four times for 30 yards. Stearns finished completing eight of nine passes for 154 yards and pair of touchdowns.
Bryan amassed 73 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, while also catching a pass for 19 yards.
Hughes had 42 yards rushing and a touchdown on 10 carries, while Bredeson scored on half his two carries, gaining 34 yards. Kamden Beebe added 23 yards on six carries.
Cassville returns home to face Aurora next week, while Monett is on the road at Mount Vernon.
