By Kyle Troutman ktroutman@cherryroad.com

NEVADA — The first half was all it took for Nevada to exert its will on Cassville Friday, delivering a stinging 62-7 defeat after scoring 43 unanswered in the opening quarters.

The Wildcats’ defense started the game with gusto, forcing a fourth-and-, but ultimately giving way to a 24-yard run to the right to go up 7-0.

Hernan Hernandez retuned the kick to the 30, but a mixup in the backfield on the first play saw the ball hit the ground and Nevada fall on it.

On the next play, the Tigers went 30 yards through the air and converted a 2-point play after an encroachment call.

Jake Anthonysz retuned the ball to the 39, trucking a defense on the away sideline. Trey Wilson then crossed midfield, and Bodee Rose hit Garrett Ewing yo to the 20. However, the drive ended at the 11 on a fourth-and-2, with Wilson crunched a yard short.

Nevada went big on the next play, and 89-yard sprint to paydirt.

A couple missed passes on Cassville’s next drive, one of which would’ve sent Ewing free and clear, and the wildcats were down 22-0 after one.

The Tigers turned up the energy in the second quarter, seeing a 43-yard touchdown called back but finishing the drive with a 9-yard QB keeper.

The Tigers intercepted on the next drive, and again on the first play struck with a 37-yard score for a 36-0 lead with 7:15 left.

Another fumble led to another 9-yard pass to the tight end for the 43-0 lead.

Cassville threatened again to close the half, with Rose trucking another tackler to gain a first. He then found Wilson to the 42 and Ewing to the 10, but the drive ended with a missed connection on fourth-and-goal from the 11.

The Wildcats found the end zone on the second drive of the third quarter, with Wilson running it up to the 23 and Jacobson gaining another first to the 47.

Wilson then broke right to go 53 yards to paydirt with 1:43 left in the third.

The Tigers added a 50-yard run for a score and capitalized on a fumble with a 14-yard haunt to provide the final scoreline.