November 09, 2008 12:33 am
—
By Jim Fryar
jfryar@joplinglobe.com
Big 8 Conference rivals Monett and Cassville have already had one memorable encounter this season.
The encore arrives Monday night, in the sectional round of the Class 3 state prep football playoffs.
Monett, ranked second in the state, risks its 11-0 record against visiting Cassville, 8-3.
Monett won the first meeting 13-7 in a District 3-11 opener on Oct. 17.
“It seems like we just got done playing,” said David Large, Cassville coach. “We’ve gotten better. But, at the same time, I think they’ve gotten better, too.”
The first Monett-Cassville game marked the first start at quarterback for versatile Monett senior Kellen Bounous. He was replacing Michael Roberts, who went out for the season with an injury in the previous game.
“They’ve gotten experience, we’ve gotten experience, we’ve both gelled,” said Alan Spencer, Monett coach. “They’re back on a run again.”
The major difference will be the comfort level for Bounous, who had divided time between receiver, running back and defense.
“It looks like he’s gotten more used to being back there,” Large said. “Now their offense looks like it’s clicking, kind of like it was when Roberts was back there.”
Spencer couldn’t agree more.
“He makes things happen,” the Monett coach said of Bounous. “When he’s around the ball, it’s pretty electric. ... He’s a hybrid, a running back-quarterback guy. He’s had four 100-yard rushing games and he’s completing 64 percent of his passes.”
Bounous has added an element to an already widely diverse Monett attack, which has been led statistically by junior back Christian Privett’s 20 touchdowns. Senior Scotty Wilson, however, has 10 scores on just 32 touches.
That kind of firepower may give Monett a potential edge in what could be another close game dominated by defense and decided by one or two big plays.
Those plays went Monett’s way in the first meeting, Large recalled.
“They had a couple of big plays, an interception in the end zone (one of two for Wilson on the night) and a touchdown pass (sophomore Chris Eimer).
“In a defensive struggle, you’re playing field position, with a lot of punts ... just trying to hit a big play or two.”
Cassville was one big play away at the end, driving into Monett territory before the threat ended on a fourth-down sack in the game’s final minute.
Spencer doesn’t expect much to change for the second meeting.
“That’s the thing ... it’s always difficult to play somebody twice,” he said. “And we already have a tremendous rivalry.”
Spencer, again, agreed.
“We’ve kind of been a thorn in their side,” he noted of the teams’ recent histories. “They’d love nothing better than to beat us and go on to the next round.”
The Cassville offense has evolved as the season progressed. Early, the Wildcats relied on the passing of veteran quarterback Jake Nolan. But senior Jon Haney and junior Joseph Gouvion have picked up the pace in the run game behind a maturing offensive line.
Gouvion had 120 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 27-14 victory over Mount Vernon to start the playoffs. Haney, the season rushing leader, had 80 yards and another TD.
“He’s trying to find point production and has a good offensive mind,” Spencer said of Large and the Cassville offense. “He’s going to use some misdirection. And I think, in the first game, he called three or four halfback passes.”
Cassville defensive leaders Ethan Couch and J.R. Woodruff split time at fullback, Large noted. Couch leads the Wildcats’ defense with 125 tackles and Woodruff has 90.
“Monett’s defensive line is really tough,” Large said. “They gave us fits (in the first meeting) with protection up front.”
The Cubs, who allowed just 41 points in 10 regular-season games, received a shock early in their playoff opener. They fell behind, for the first time all season, before recovering for a 42-7 victory over Springfield Catholic.
Copyright © 1999-2010 cnhi, inc.