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Comets rally in OT to claim first win of the season
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A.J. Gates
Updated: Sep 15, 2011, 2:07 PM
Published: Sep 15, 2011, 2:20 PM

BENTON – It took a furious fourth-quarter rally and a big play in overtime, but the Cassville varsity football team collected its first win of the 2011 season by beating host Benton-Scales Mound last Friday night, 26-23.

The win improved coach Doug Fure’s squad to a Six Rivers record of 1-3, while coach Al Alexander’s Zephyrs dropped to 1-3 with the loss.

After each team exchanged touchdowns in the first quarter, Benton-Scales Mound held a halftime lead of 7-6.

It was Cassville sophomore Cole Adams who scored the game’s first points on a 41-yard TD pass from senior quarterback Garrett Schauff.

The Zephyrs answered with a 25-yard interception return for their score by junior cornerback Josh Korte.

Coach Alexander’s squad came out in the second half and owned the third quarter, putting up 13 points on a 3-yard TD plunge by Brett Pulvermacher and a 43-yard TD pass from Stephen Korte to Josh Korte with 1:44 remaining in the quarter.

With kicker Toby Fischer making one-of-two extra-point kicks in the third quarter, the Zephyrs took a 20-6 lead into the final quarter of regulation.

“In the third quarter we couldn’t stop them, and we kept shooting ourselves in the foot with penalties and an interception,” said Cassville coach Doug Fure.

His quarterback, Garrett Schauff, threw three picks in the game, the first of which was returned for a touchdown in the fist quarter.

On the ensuing kick off following the TD connection from the Korte boys, Cassville senior Nate Baliff received the kick from his own 14-yard line and returned it 69 yards to the Zephyr’s 17.

The Comets used six plays to get into the end zone, as Dallas Bernhardt scored from one-yard out. The extra-point kick by Schauff made the score 20-13 with 10 minutes to play in regulation.

On their next possession, Benton-Scales Mound marched down the field, picking up three first downs. Faced with a fourth-and-six from Cassville’s 24-yard line, Dallas Bernhardt picked off a Stephen Korte pass and returned it to the Zephyr’s four-yard line. An unsportsmanlike penalty after the play gave the Comets a first-and-goal from the two.

It took two plays and a five-yard penalty, but Cassville put the ball in the end zone when Baliff scored from seven yards out. The scored was knotted at 20-20 with 4:21 to play when Schauff knocked home the extra-point kick.

With neither team threatening in the final minutes of regulation, the game went into overtime, where each team took their turn at the 25-yard line.

Benton-Scales Mound had the ball first, and after four plays and one first down, Fischer knocked home a 34-yard field goal to take a 23-20 lead.

Knowing they had to get the ball in the end zone to win the game, Cassville started out with a three-yard run by Cole Adams on their first play.

On their second play, Baliff was given the ball on a stretch play to the left, and after reading a great kick-out block by Dakota Bernhardt, the speedy senior cut against the grain and raced 22 yards for the game-winning score.

“It was a very neat atmosphere at the time,” said coach Fure of the win. “I’m just happy for the kids. They were able to claw their way back and see that hard work does payoff.”

While it was ultimately good field position by the defense and special teams that allowed Cassville to win, they did manage to rush for 126 yards on 34 attempts, led by Dakota Bernhardt’s 43 yards on nine carries.

Schauff completed 5-of-9 passing attempts for 73 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions, while Chris Meier hauled in a team-high three receptions for 36 yards.

“Offensively, we still need to find our way, but our defense and special teams is what really gave us a shot in the arm.”

Benton-Scales Mound finished the night with 158 yards rushing on 39 attempts, and was led by Brett Pulvermacher.

Korte completed 4-of-8 passing attempts for 71 yards, one TD and one interception.

Leading the Comets in tackles Friday night was Schauff, who had 17 total, three solo. Dallas Bernhardt finished with 15 tackles and one interception, while defensive tackle Jacob Haas was in on 14 stops and one sack, while the other defensive tackle, Cody Schwab, had 11 tackles and one sack.

The Comets will play this Saturday at Shullsburg (1-3, 1-2), while Benton-Scales Mound will host Weston on Saturday in a 1 p.m. non-conference contest.

Cassville 26,
Benton-Scales Mound 23 (OT)
(from Friday, Sept. 9)
Cassville        6    0    0    14    6 - 26
Benton/SM    7    0    13    0    3 - 23
First quarter
C - Cole Adams, 41-yard pass from Schauff (kick failed)
B/SM - Josh Korte, 25-yard interception return (Fischer kick)
Third quarter
B/SM - Pulvermacher, 3-yard run (kick failed)
B/SM - J. Korte, 43-yard pass from Stephen Korte (Fischer kick)
Fourth quarter
C - Dallas Bernhardt, 1-yard run (Schauff kick)
C - Nate Baliff, 7-yard run (Schauff kick)
Overtime
B/SM - Fischer, 34-yard field goal
C - Baliff, 22-yard run


Team statistics
First downs - C 5, BSM 8. Rushing - C 34-126, BSM 39-158. Passing yards - C 73, BSM 71. Passes - C 5-9-3, BSM 4-8-1. Fumbles lost - C 0, BSM 0. Penalties-yards - C 10-55, BSM 8-55.


Individual leaders
Rushing - C: Dakota Bernhardt 9-43, Dallas Bernhardt 11-32, Nate Baliff 5-27; BSM: Brett Pulvermacher 18-n/a. Passing - C: Garrett Schauff 5-9-3, 73; BSM: Steven Korte 4-8-1, 71. Receiving - C: Chris Meier 3-36; BSM: Josh Korte 1-43.

 

 

 
Belmont's Kaleen McGettigan notches career win No. 200
Braves blowout Potosi/Cassville in coach's milestone victory
Kaleen McGettigan 200
Belmont girls head coach Kaleen McGettigan earned her 200th career win last Tuesday night with a 56–25 win over Potosi/Cassville.
Casey Lindecrantz
Published: Dec 13, 2024, 7:23 PM

POTOSI — Belmont girls basketball coach Kaleen McGettigan collected her 200th career win last Tuesday night with a 56–25 victory over Potosi/Cassville.

The Braves shot out to and maintained an early lead in Six Rivers West win over the host Chieftains (3–2, 0–2 SRW).

Potosi/Cassville claimed the opening point on a free throw, but a basket under the hoop by Morgan Freeman earned the only lead change of the night. The result was a Braves lead where the traveling team earned nearly 30 points before Potosi/Cassville tasted double figures.

“Any time we play a conference team, we know it is going to be a battle,” McGettigan said. “The Chieftains lost one of their starters the night before, but credit tot he team and their staff, they came out ready to play. Coach Nebel has done a nice job in her first month as a head coach.”

The Braves clung to a 37–16 lead at the break, nurturing it as they pushed to double Potosi/Cassville’s output over the final 18 minutes.

“I was pleased with the girls’ offensive attacks,” McGettigan said. “We are a tough team to guard because we are so interchangeable, and we need to take more advantage of that.”

The Belmont front was led by a three-headed monster of Lexi Riechers (18 points, 3 rebounds, 4 steals), Freeman (14 pts, 6 reb), and Kaci Riechers (12 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast, 5 stl). 

Carsyn Ramaker also took on an supporting role — her six rebounds and five assists were each tied for the team high.

“Lexi Riechers was a spark for us, and she got a couple things going on both ends of the floor,” McGettigan said. “Carsyn continues to see the floor well, and Hailey Bahr played the best game of her career.”

With just three opponents left ahead of the new year, the Braves’ next opportunity on the court comes at Benton on Dec. 12.

Junior Lillie Cooley scored a team-high five points in the loss for Potosi/Cassville (3–2, 0–2) which suffered its first loss.

Despite the win, McGettigan believes her team needs improvements in a few areas.

“We need to do a better job of consistently finishing around the rim,” she said. “We also need to be more comfortable  in our half-court sets.”

The Zephyrs (0–6, 0–2) most recently lost to Stockton (Ill.) on Dec. 9, 68–18, and haven’t scored more than 20 points in each of their last three games.

“We need to continue working on limiting other teams’ offensive boards, and getting to our outlet spots,” McGettigan said. “December is a slow month for us, so we need to stay focused in the gym and need to get better.”

Belmont 56, Potosi/Cassville 25
(from Tuesday, Dec. 3 @ Potosi)
Belmont 37 19 — 56
Potosi/Cassville 16 9 — 25
Belmont (2–1, 1–0) — Hailey Bahr 2, Courtney Fritz 5, Kaci Riechers 12, Morgan Freeman 14, Jaelyn Leitzinger 2, Lexi Riechers 18, Brittany Taylor 3. Totals — 25-71 2-7 56.  
Potosi/Cassville (3–1, 0–1) — Matty Udelhofen 4, Madi Weber 2, Lillie Cooley 5, Brielle Fishnick 4, Ruby Roe 3, Miranda Kieler 4, Delany McKillip 3. Totals — 8-43 8-11 25. 
3-pointers — B: 4-19 (Fritz 1, K. Riechers 2, L. Riechers 1); PC: 1-11 (Roe 1). Team fouls — B: 14; PC: 14. Foul out — none.