BELMONT - This years young Cassville football squad is learning as they go, and unfortunately for them and their fans, they are also taking their lumps as they make their way through the 2012 schedule.
Last Friday night at Belmont, the Comets suffered a 40-6 loss to the host Braves, dropping their season and conference records to 0-4.
The Braves managed 432 yards of total offense and held a lead of 40-0 going into the fourth quarter, where Cassville scored its only touchdown.
With 306 yards rushing and 126 yards through the air, it was obvious Belmont controlled the ball, and essentially controlled the game.
Cassville, on the other hand, ran for 87 yards on 30 carries and managed one yard through the air on 2-of-10 pass attempts.
“We need to execute better,” said Cassville coach Doug Fure. “The experience thing we can’t do much about. We get a little bit more experience with every game. We just have to do a better job offensively and defensively.”
“On offense we’ve got to block better, we’ve got to run our fakes a little bit better, and defensively we need to meet where the ball is and make tackles a little bit better. A lot of times we’re right there to make the play, we just are a step slow.”
Junior halfback Cole Adams led the Comets in rushing with 51 yards on 12 carries, while sophomore Dallas Esser finished with 17 yards on three carries, including a 19-yard TD run with 5:00 to play in the fourth quarter.
Sophomore quarterback Hunter Nix completed 2-of-10 passing attempts for one yard, while Luke Kirschbaum had one reception for three yards.
Defensively for the Comets, Cole Adams had a team-high 15 tackles and one interception, while Caleb Dahse was in on 13 total tackles. Adam Kirschbaum had one forced fumble and also blocked an extra-point kick to go along with seven tackles.
The Comets will travel to River Ridge this Friday night to take on the Timberwolves (0-3, 1-3), who are coming off a 54-0 loss to Black Hawk.
Belmont 40, Cassville 6
(from Friday, Sept. 14)
Cassville 0 0 0 6 - 6
Belmont 6 14 20 0 - 40
First quarter
B - Richardson, 2-yard run (kick failed)
Second quarter
B - Richardson, 1-yard run (Richardson run)
B - Wedig, 15-yard pass from John Bahr (run failed)
Third quarter
B - Voigts, 16-yard pass from Bahr (kick failed)
B - VanBogart, 77-yard punt return (Wedig run)
B - Wedig, 25-yard run (pass failed)
Fourth quarter
C - Dallas Esser, 19-yard run (run failed)
Team statistics
First downs - C 1, B 19. Rushing - C 30-87, B 42-306. Passing yards - C 1, B 126. Passes - C 2-10-0, B 11-16-1. Fumbles-lost - C 2-1, B 2-1. Penalties-yards - C 5-45, B 4-30.
Individual leaders
Rushing - C: Cole Adams 12-51, Dallas Esser 3-17; B: Wedig 20-211. Passing - C: Hunter Nix 2-10-0, 1; B: Bahr 11-16-1, 126. Receiving - C: Luke Kirschbaum 1-3; B: Voigts 6-80.
