Celtics’ speed poses test for Cassville defense

Sports

Discussion

November 21, 2009

Anonymous The Joplin Globe Sat Nov 21, 2009, 12:49 AM CST

By Richard Polen

rpolen@joplinglobe.com

CASSVILLE, Mo. — Cassville head coach David Large knows his Wildcats’ defense faces a challenge today in the Class 3 semifinal matchup with Archbishop O’Hara of Kansas City.

The Celtics, led by quarterback T.J. White, overcame Pleasant Hill 50-49 in last week’s quarterfinal after a 35-7 O’Hara lead vanished and became a 49-42 deficit.

In fact, O’Hara has won two of three playoff games by scoring in the final 35 seconds of the game.

“They’re a great football team,” Large said. “They have some very good athletes. There are tough matchup propositions with their quarterback, running back and receiver. They have a lot of speed. Their quarterback is really special and can run or pass, and they have a good, quick running back.”

White, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound senior, is the West Central Conference player of the year and is O’Hara’s all-time leader with 4,431 yards passing in his career. Running back Raphael Spencer, who holds the school record in the 100 meters, has about 1,100 rushing yards this season.

Aaron Stubblefield, who had five receptions for 105 yards in a 21-16 sectional victory over Savannah, is the Celtics’ No. 2 all-time leading receiver with 48 career catches.

Cassville’s primary threats on offense are running back Joseph Gouvion, the offensive player of the year in the Big 8 Conference, with 1,432 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns.

Quarterback Trevor Tanner has 958 rushing yards and has completed 45 of 87 passes for 711 yards and five touchdowns. The Wildcats’ leading receiver is Travis Northern, who has 22 receptions for 345 yards and three touchdowns.

One difference between the two teams is the makeup of the defensive units.

“They play eight or nine both ways and we play one or two,” Large said. “We hope to take advantage of that late in the game if we can stay close. But at the end of the game, you really don’t want the ball in their (O’Hara’s) hands.”

Large said the Wildcats didn’t prepare for the game any differently than they have for any other opponent. And it helps to be playing at home.

“We just try to get better week to week. We try to be a good, disciplined football team,” he said. “We have a great atmosphere, fan base, and the community loves football. We think in the last couple of years we’ve built a pretty good home-field advantage.”

Text Only

Sports

Colgan's Cichon wins No. 500
The 500-win plateau is an achievement that does not come without some winning formula.

February 11, 2012 5 Photos
Prep Roundup: Joplin's Wood breaks school record
Joplin’s Madi Wood broke a school record, Michelle Barchak and Genny Richards posted the fastest qualifying times Friday during preliminaries of the Southwest Missouri Championships at the Natatorium.

February 11, 2012
Hester, Lions prep for Emporia State
Patrick Hester, one of Missouri Southern’s best free-throw shooters, stepped to the line Wednesday night with 13.5 seconds left in the second overtime, looking to push the Lions’ three-point lead to a two-possession game.

February 11, 2012
MSSU's Gibson sets career highs in consecutive games
In Missouri Southern’s first 20 games this season, guard Larrita Gipson scored in double figures once — 10 points on Jan. 21 at Truman State.

February 11, 2012
PSU women seek record-tying 22nd win
Among Pittsburg State’s four football national championships, three came during seasons that ended in the number 1 — 1961, 1991 and 2011.

February 11, 2012
Kickapoo girls race past Joplin
Annie Armstrong poured in 21 points to lead the Kickapoo girls to a 65-28 victory over Joplin on Thursday night in an Ozark Conference basketball game at Missouri Southern’s Young Gymnasium.

February 10, 2012 3 Photos
Hillsdale women stop OCC
Visiting Hillsdale Free Will Baptist handed Ozark Christian a 68-47 loss in women’s college basketball on Thursday night.

February 10, 2012
Quapaw completes 12-0 run through Lucky '7' Conference
Quapaw High School girls basketball coach Rod Graves expected the 2011-12 Wildcats to compile another successful season.
They haven’t been a disappointment.

February 10, 2012
Pitching holds key for softball Lions
Pitching is the main question Missouri Southern must answer as the Lions open their softball season today in Abilene, Texas.

February 10, 2012
NCAA denies UConn waiver request
The NCAA has turned down the University of Connecticut’s request for a waiver that would allow its men’s basketball team to play in the 2013 national championship tournament.

February 10, 2012
More Sports Headlines

Water company cites reconnections

Sports

Search Results

Discussion

Celtics’ speed poses test for Cassville defense

Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr wants the city to distribute weather radios to all Joplin homes that don’t have one. That’s 11,000 radios. Do you think that’s a good use of $300,440?

Site Map

Contact Us