BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@cherryroad.com

Big plays on defense, big plays on special teams and even bigger plays on offense propelled Cassville to a 42-14 victory over Aurora Friday.

Clay Weldy, Cassville coach, said the victory was a sweet one for a home opener.

“We executed very well, especially in the first half,” he said. “We made some big plays, and we controlled their size on both sides of the ball, which I was a little worried about. We also go out healthy, and we hope to get some more guys back next week.”

Senior Trey Wilson, who scored two touchdowns and set up another, said winning big at home was a feeling he won’t soon forget.

“It feels great,” he said. “Coming from a losing season last year to coming to our home field and win like this — it feels good to get this win under our belts.”

Though Cassville (2-0) scored all 42 of its points in the first 24 minutes, the Houn’ Dawgs struck first in the game, going for it on fourth-and-3 and finding a seam up the middle for a 36-yard score 3:38 into the game.

Cassville answered on the next drive, then ran away with the game in the first half with six touchdowns before the break.

After a Bryson Jacobson first down, Wilson broke a 39-yard run down the home sideline to the 6. Three plays later, Jacobson capped the drive with a 1-yard punch into paydirt.

Hernan Hernandez made his impact on the game on the next drive, intercepting a deep Aurora pass. Cassville capitalized on the momentum, with Wilson bringing in a 67-yard passing touchdown to give the Wildcats the lead.

The Houn’ Dawgs stalled at midfield on the next drive, and after a punt, Jacobson found room to tiptoe the home sideline for a 65-yard touchdown run, the first play of the second quarter.

Another defensive gem, Wilson broke up a third-down pass to force another punt. The playbook opened on the next drive, with Riley Ruark nailing a wide receiver reverse pass to Garrett Ewing for another 55-yard strike.

The Wildcats kept the pressure on, nearly blocking Aurora’s next punt but landing at their own 17.

No matter for quarterback Bodee Rose, who fought through a crowd on the Aurora sideline to break free for a 66-yard touchdown run.

Not slowing, Aurora’s next punt was a low snap, and Cassville rushed the punter to tackle him at the Dawgs’ 7.

Wilson made quick work of the field position with a 2-yard touchdown run.

Following another Aurora punt, Cassville knelt the ball into a 35-point halftime lead.

In the second half, Aurora scored on a 58-yard pass where the ball was tipped into the receiver’s hands in the end zone. 

The highlight of the half for Cassville was a Josh Olsen interception late in the game when the second string was getting experience. Olsen returned the ball inside the 5, but the play was called back for a personal foul.

Weldy said the big plays — touchdowns from 67, 65, 55 and 66 yards — were the product of execution.

“We thought we had some opportunities for big plays, but the thing is, you have to execute on those opportunities,” Weldy said. “The wide receiver reverse was one we worked on in practice. It was the right time to call it, and it worked.”

Wilson said credit for the offensive performance should go to the men in the trenches.

“Our linemen did it all for us,” he said. “We couldn’t do it at all without our linemen.”

The Wildcats also managed to spread the ball around, with four different players finding the end zone.

“That is part of our philosophy to spread the ball around,” Weldy said. “We try to go to who has the hot hands, and I tell the guys it can be any one of them on any night. Tonight, we had a few hot hands.”

Wilson said the variety of scorers is not only important to keep opponents guessing, but it’s also more fun for Cassville.

“If we can all get touchdowns and not try to force it to one person, it’s a lot more fun,” he said. “It’s also more fun because it feels like we are all participating as a team should.”

Cassville remains home on Friday, hosting Seneca in Week 3 action.