CASSVILLE, Mo. | As the third quarter ended on Saturday afternoon in this Missouri Class 3 semifinal matchup, it took awhile for O’Hara’s starting offense to trudge to its sideline. At that moment, just holding up four gloved fingers to signify the start of the fourth quarter looked like an exhausting task. Many of the Celtics had been playing both ways, taking blow after blow from a relentless Cassville option offense that would gain 263 yards. It was the point in the game for one of O’Hara’s fourth-quarter miracles. But this time, the Celtics’ tank was empty, and the defending champion Wildcats were on their way to the Show-Me Bowl in St. Louis with a 23-7 victory. “We were tired this time,” said senior Aaron Stubblefield, who played two positions: wide receiver and defensive back. “We didn’t have what we had all the other games. We couldn’t find it. It wasn’t there.” In O’Hara’s three previous playoff games, it had orchestrated fourth-quarter comebacks. And while it appeared for a while that another happy ending might be on the horizon in Cassville — while trailing 10-7, O’Hara had forced a Wildcat fumble and took possession at its own 19-yard-line just before the start of the fourth — the Celtics’ tired minds and bodies would not cooperate. A three-and-out followed that Cassville fumble. With about five minutes remaining in the game, a 12-play drive ended when quarterback T.J. White tried to pump fake on fourth down but fumbled and lost the ball. After that turnover, Cassville took over with its ball-control offense. Any hopes of a Celtic comeback ended when Wildcat senior Travis Northern faked a punt on fourth and 3, and rushed five yards to O’Hara’s 36-yard line. “They knew what they were doing,” Stubblefield said. “They’ve been there before. And they’re just experienced and pounded us.” Cassville closed up the running lanes for White, who could gain only 48 yards on 18 carries. Also, White completed just nine of 20 passes for 100 yards — hitting Stubblefield three times for 44 yards. Although the Celtics concluded their season with a 12-2 record, coach Jim DeMarea was pleased with his team’s effort. “When high school kids have to travel 400 miles to play, they did a great job of coming down and getting ready for the game,” DeMarea said. “We thought we had a little magic here too. But Cassville’s a great football program, and we came up a little short.”

Posted on Sat, Nov. 21, 2009 10:15 PM

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Cassville beats O’Hara 23-7, punches its ticket for St. Louis

By CANDACE BUCKNER

The Kansas City Star

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Many of the Celtics had been playing both ways, taking blow after blow from a relentless Cassville option offense that would gain 263 yards. It was the point in the game for one of O’Hara’s fourth-quarter miracles.

But this time, the Celtics’ tank was empty, and the defending champion Wildcats were on their way to the Show-Me Bowl in St. Louis with a 23-7 victory.

“We were tired this time,” said senior Aaron Stubblefield, who played two positions: wide receiver and defensive back. “We didn’t have what we had all the other games. We couldn’t find it. It wasn’t there.”

In O’Hara’s three previous playoff games, it had orchestrated fourth-quarter comebacks. And while it appeared for a while that another happy ending might be on the horizon in Cassville — while trailing 10-7, O’Hara had forced a Wildcat fumble and took possession at its own 19-yard-line just before the start of the fourth — the Celtics’ tired minds and bodies would not cooperate.

A three-and-out followed that Cassville fumble. With about five minutes remaining in the game, a 12-play drive ended when quarterback T.J. White tried to pump fake on fourth down but fumbled and lost the ball. After that turnover, Cassville took over with its ball-control offense. Any hopes of a Celtic comeback ended when Wildcat senior Travis Northern faked a punt on fourth and 3, and rushed five yards to O’Hara’s 36-yard line.

“They knew what they were doing,” Stubblefield said. “They’ve been there before. And they’re just experienced and pounded us.”

Cassville closed up the running lanes for White, who could gain only 48 yards on 18 carries. Also, White completed just nine of 20 passes for 100 yards — hitting Stubblefield three times for 44 yards.

Although the Celtics concluded their season with a 12-2 record, coach Jim DeMarea was pleased with his team’s effort.

“When high school kids have to travel 400 miles to play, they did a great job of coming down and getting ready for the game,” DeMarea said. “We thought we had a little magic here too. But Cassville’s a great football program, and we came up a little short.”

To reach Candace Buckner, call 816-234-4389 or send e-mail to cbuckner@kcstar.com

Posted on Sat, Nov. 21, 2009 10:15 PM

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