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.
Rogersville trimmed the lead with its first drive of the fourth quarter that featured a 55-yard run by Besant to put Rogersville at the Cassville 27. After a 4-yard loss, quarterback Colton Dill hit Josh Schmitt across the middle for a 31-yard TD play that narrowed the gap to 19-14, setting up Haney’s late TD run.
“The biggest thing I’d seen about Rogersville on film was how well-coached they were,” said Large. “I didn’t see any weaknesses on offense, defense or special teams. We weren’t sure how well we’d match up with them.”
The Cassville defense came up huge for the second game in a row, specifically in the secondary where Pierson intercepted two passes, and Chris Smith picked off another late in the fourth quarter to end Rogersville’s final drive. Smith also broke up a Rogersville pass play in the first half that would have been an almost certain touchdown, and notched a sack late in the third quarter to force a Rogersville punt.
Chillicothe (13-0) is the state’s top-ranked Class 3 team, meaning the Wildcats will have played No. 2 (Monett) and No. 1 just 10 days apart.
“Everybody says Chillicothe is the best team in the state,” said Large. “They haven’t had any down games. We’ve got our work cut out for us, but that’s the way it’s supposed to be. There are four teams left.”
Sports
November 15, 2008
Haney’s TD burst clinches Cassville’s playoff win
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Outlaws open season Thursday on the road
Chris Oldner takes a cut during the Joplin Outlaws practice Tuesday afternoon. The Outlaws open their season on Thursday night at Rossville and play seven road games before their home opener on June 5.
The Joplin Outlaws and new coach Rob Vessell have set some lofty goals for the 2012 baseball season.
Continued ... - Stanton’s homers fuel Marlins’ surge in May
- Five sign to join Missouri Southern women's track team
- Whisner ignites Joplin Miners past Webb City
- Venus Williams joins Serena on sideline in Paris
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- Pittsburg State Sports
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- Vengels sixth in heptathlon; PSU picks up two seventh-place finishes
- Ethan Cordray signs with Pittsburg State
- Lions, Gorillas begin competition in outdoor track and field championship
- Three finalists named for PSU head baseball coach position
- Lions qualify 10, PSU 15 for Division II outdoor track meet
- Missouri Southern Sports
- High School Sports
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Area athletes turn shine at state meet
Webb City's Jarvis Jones takes sixth in the 200.
- Cleo Elbert steps down at Thomas Jefferson
- Frontenac wins first state baseball title
- Joplin's Jeremy Lynn takes fifth at state tennis
- Frontenac advances at state baseball
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