Thu, Nov 26 2009
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Cassville run reaches Dome Wildcats pick off 3 passes to beat No. 1-ranked team “I had my eyes closed about half the time,” said Large with a grin. “I haven’t been nervous all week, and I usually don’t get that nervous about anything, but that last drive of theirs, well, it seemed like time stood still. The clock wasn’t moving fast enough.”
The Hornets had been steamrolling opponents in recent weeks, but Chillicothe coach Phil Willard said mistakes, and the Cassville defense, were the reason his team’s dream of a state championship came to an end. “The difference in this game was Cassville made plays when they had to, and we didn’t,” he said. “We had chances, and we made some mistakes with turnovers, but they have the best defense we’ve seen all year. The best. They were hard hitting, and they had a good game plan. Nobody has been able to stop our offense like that all year.” Cassville struck first on an 81-yard toss from quarterback Jake Nolan to Trevor Tanner when the Chillicothe cornerback jumped his coverage going for the interception, leaving Tanner unprotected racing to the end zone. The PAT kick by Aaron Jamieson put the Wildcats ahead 7-0 with 10 seconds left in the first quarter. Chillicothe running back Bryce Young struck for what proved to be the biggest offensive play of the day for the Hornets when he got free for a 91-yard carry that gave Chillicothe a first and goal from the 2. Running back Clint Dysart finally crossed for the score and the PAT by Connor Lindley tied the game at 7-7 with 8:10 left before halftime. One of the most critical mistakes of the day for the Hornets came with 6:41 left before halftime when a fumbled punt return was collected by Cassville’s Brent Elkins giving the ball right back to the Wildcats at the Chillicothe 18. Four plays later Nolan kept the ball from the 1 to put Cassville ahead 14-7. With 11:52 left to play, the Hornets crept back into the game when Young hit Dysart with a 16-yard halfback pass for a touchdown. Lindley’s PAT kick, which proved to be the difference in the game, was wide left and the Wildcats still hung on to the lead. “Who would’ve thought a missed extra point would decide this thing?” said Large. With his 90-plus yard run figured in, Young finished the day with 165 yards rushing on 19 carries. Joseph Gouvion led the Wildcats with 71 yards on 17 carries. Trevor Tanner caught three Nolan passes for 118 yards and a touchdown. “We didn’t know how well we’d match up with Chillicothe,” said Large. “They looked great on film, but at this time of the year, you just go out there and play the football game. After the first quarter we felt like we could play with them.” 
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