By Rod Shetler

sports@joplinglobe.com

CASSVILLE, Mo. — Momentum is a fickle creature, and for just a moment in the fourth quarter of Cassville and Rogersville’s Class 3 quarterfinal, it seemed that Cassville had let it slip away.

Cassville running back Jon Haney, in one game-breaking moment, got it back in a big way.

After Rogersville had pulled to within 19-14 with 7:09 left to play, Haney took the ball straight up the middle, 69 yards for a touchdown, that gave Cassville a 26-14 lead that would hold up to the end.

“That was just an iso play up the middle,” said Cassville quarterback Jake Nolan. “Our offensive line did a great job. They just spread the defense like the Red Sea and Haney was off. I knew he was gone.”

Haney paced the Cassville offensive attack scoring three touchdowns and racking up 152 yards on 22 carries.

“(The 69-yard TD run) felt good. It was my first big run this season,” said Haney. “It got the momentum back on our side, and we were able to make some history. It feels great.”

The Cassville victory means the Wildcats (10-3) will host the state’s top-ranked team, Chillicothe, next Saturday in the Class 3 semifinal at 1:30 p.m. Chillicothe beat Pleasant Hill 29-13 in another quarterfinal game Saturday.

The game will be Cassville’s first-ever state semifinal appearance.

“This is a great feeling,” said Cassville coach David Large. “This has been a pretty incredible week with the win at Monett, then hosting the game (Saturday) with all the community here. It’s pretty chaotic, but it’s great.”

Rogersville jumped on top first, taking the ball 74 yards in 11 plays on its first possession. Noah Besant, who finished the game leading all rushers with 170 yards on 23 carries, scored from the 3 to put Rogersville ahead 7-0.

After Cassville got the ball on an interception by Cody Pierson, Haney scored his first touchdown on the second play of the second period, a 10-yard run that tied the game 7-7.

Cassville scored again later in the second period on a 2-yard dive by Haney. Rogersville’s Connor Smith blocked Aaron Jamieson’s PAT kick and left the halftime score at 13-7.

Cassville appeared to have put the game away on its first drive of the second half, a clock-melting 17-play, 63-yard drive that ended with Nolan keeping the ball on a 1-yard run. The Wildcats’ two-point conversion attempt failed leaving the game at 19-7.