Thu, Mar 18 2010
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Published November 22, 2009 12:58 am - Cassville’s defense shuts down O'Hara By Rod Shetler
sports@joplinglobe.com CASSVILLE, Mo. — If offense gets headlines and defense wins championships, the Cassville Wildcats might be in good shape to bring home another championship trophy next weekend. The Wildcats’ defense manhandled a Kansas City O’Hara offense that had been averaging 38 points per game and held them to a season low Saturday, winning 23-7 in the Class 3 state semifinal football game. Cassville, 13-1, will travel to St. Louis next Saturday with the opportunity to claim its second consecutive state title. The Wildcats will play undefeated Bowling Green in the title game. “We didn’t approach this year with the idea of repeating or going back to St. Louis,” said Cassville coach David Large. “We focus on playing good football and improving each day. We knew after last year that you keep facing better teams, and sometimes it takes a little luck. We still have one more to win.” The Wildcats didn’t rely on luck to top the Celtics (12-2) on Saturday, but defensive coordinator Lance Parnell knew his defensive squad had a serious challenge in store for them against the O’Hara team. Coming off a 50-49 victory in the quarterfinals over Pleasant Hill, the Celtics featured Rafael Spencer at tailback who rushed for 275 yards and five touchdowns in the win; quarterback T.J. White, a threat to run or throw, and wide receiver Aaron Stubblefield, a speedster on the outside. “It was a difficult week of preparation. (O’Hara) had so much speed and athleticism all over the field. I couldn’t be more proud of my players to hold a team like that in check. I told Dave earlier this week that if he could get our offense to score 45 we were OK,” joked Parnell after the game. “No way in the world I thought we could hold them to seven points.” The final damage the Celtics’ offense was able to inflict was minimal. Spencer was held to 63 yards on nine carries, 31 of which came on a second-quarter touchdown run. The O’Hara back managed just 10 yards on three carries in the second half. White threw for 103 yards, 33 of which came on a desperation drive in the final minute of the game. White, also ran the ball 17 times for 49 yards, most of which came on failed pass attempts he had to hold on to with Wildcat defenders on his heels. Stubblefield caught two balls for 40 yards. The seven points was a season low for the Celtics. Their previous low was in their only other loss of the season, a 28-20 setback to Sedalia Smith-Cotton on Sept. 18. “We start from Day One at camp preaching discipline on defense,” said Parnell. “We’re not real fancy. We expect our players to play with great discipline and great intensity. That’s our foundation.” Cassville opened their first drive in O’Hara territory after a partially blocked punt gave them the ball at the Celtic 49. Nine plays later senior Joseph Gouvion broke through the O’Hara line and went 15 yards for a touchdown. Matt Angel’s PAT gave the Wildcats an early 7-0 lead with 7:01 left in the first quarter. The lead held until O’Hara showed a glimpse of its big-play potential midway through the second quarter. White hit Stubblefield for a 33-yard gain to the Wildcat 31, and Spencer rumbled 31 yards on the next play for a touchdown. Julian Gidley’s PAT made the score 7-7 with 7:59 left before halftime. 
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