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Wolves Tamed by Tigers: Nevada defeats Reeds Spring in Friday night game
A story for young people was written in England 133 years ago by author James Halliwell-Phillipps….and the gist of the story line was: “Who’s afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?”
Fast forward one and a third centuries later, the PA announcer at Carl Langley Field on the Campus of Reeds Spring High School, roared in pregame loudly, over and over, “ THE BIG BAD WOLF… THE BIG BAD WOLF… THE BIG BAD WOLF…”
It was the home opener for the defending Missouri Class 3 state runner up, Reeds Spring Wolves. A sense of excitement filled the picturesque setting as August gave way to September. The host Wolves were coming off an 12-3 season in the fall of 2022 which saw them capture the Big 8 East Division. Reeds Spring lost to Cardinal Ritter High School in the state championship last December. The Tigers, 9-3 last fall, were 34-7 winners over Reeds Spring in last year's home opener. Both teams were coming into this week’s match up 1-0 having won their opening games. In addition, both teams are state ranked: Nevada 9th in Missouri Class 4 and Reeds Spring 6th in Class 3. The game was one of the best week two matchups in Southwest Missouri football, or so we thought. Two and a half hours later the Nevada defense had forced four turnovers and the Tiger Offense rushed for over 500 yards.
Reeds Spring would win the toss and began the first drive of the game on their own 29. It didn’t take long for the hosts to generate some offense. The Wolves' talented quarterback, Blandy Burall, would toss a screen pass to the left to receiver Jace Bolin that went for 56 yards to the Nevada three-yard line. On the next play from scrimmage, Bolin would cross the endzone at 9:47 left in the first quarter. The PAT was good and the Wolves were on top of visiting Nevada by a score of 7-0.
Nevada didn’t take long to get into the scoring column. The Tigers started their first drive from their own 35. After a run by junior Jack Cheaney, followed by a Nevada penalty, senior running back Brice Budd showed his excellent speed and scampered for a 66-yard touchdown. The PAT two-point attempt by the Tigers failed and the score stood at 7-6 in favor of the Wolves at 8:36 left in the opening quarter.
On the Wolves second drive, Nevada linebacker Kellan Ast would come up with the first of three interceptions by the Tiger defense. Ast would advance the ball to the Reeds Spring 33-yard line. After a short run and a Nevada penalty, Brice Budd would pick up good yardage bringing up a manageable third down opportunity. On the next play from scrimmage, Nevada junior tailback Gabe Smith would sprint 16 yards for the score. Again, the 2-point PAT attempt failed but the Tigers took their first lead of the evening at 4:21 left in the first quarter, 12-7.
Just under two minutes later, Reeds Spring quarterback would be intercepted for the second time in the quarter, this time by junior Jack Cheaney at the Tiger 15-yard Iine. Jack would return the ball 9 yards to the Nevada 24. After a long run by Budd and an 8-yard gain by Cheaney, Budd would find the endzone for the second time with a 24-yard run to paydirt. The PAT was not successful and the Tigers held an 18-7 lead as the first quarter would soon come to a close.
Early in the second quarter, Reeds spring quarterback would commit his third turnover of the half, this time by fumble, the recovery was made by DE Grady Stewart, a Tiger junior. The fumble was forced by Tiger Camdyn Williams, junior Tiger defensive lineman. Nevada would take over at midfield.
After two runs by Cheaney and one carry by Budd, Jack Cheaney would find the endzone from 10 yards out. This time the two-point attempt was a successful pass from QB Kellen Braden to Tyler Longobardi. At 7:01 left in the half, the Tigers opened their lead to 26-7.
It didn’t take Reeds Spring long to close the score. At the 6:06, last year’s Big 8 East Co-Offensive Player of the Year QB Burrall, would go on a 12-yard run to close the score to 26-13. The 2-point PAT would fail.
The offensive fireworks for both teams continued in the final 6 minutes. At 3:42, Cheaney found the endzone for the third time. This time Jack pushed the ball across the goal line from 7 yards out. Cheaney would tack on the 2-point conversion to bring the score to 34-13 in favor of the Tigers.
Reeds Spring countered with a 65-yard pass from QB Burall to senior WR Daniel Fliflet. Two subsequent penalties on offense by the Wolves pushed the ball back to the reeds 40-yard line. It was then at 1st and 35 that Burall would find #13, all state senior James Dowdy for the long touchdown strike at 2:46 left in the second quarter. The PAT would fail. The score at the half would be 34-19 in favor of visiting Nevada.
To open the second half of play, Reeds Spring would attempt an onside kick. The ball was easily recovered by the Tigers, leaving them with excellent field position at the 49-yard line. The Tigers would continue to methodically push the ball down field and at 10:15 left in the third quarter, Junior running back Jack Cheaney found daylight from 6 yards out to bring the score 40-19 in favor of Nevada.
After the Tiger Defense held the Wolves offense on downs, the offense marched on Wolves territory like General Willliam Tecumseh Sherman on Atlanta in 1864. Jack Cheaney would run the ball into the endzone from 6 yards out for his fourth touchdown of the night. The PAT would fail. With 19 seconds left in the third quarter, Nevada had increased the margin to 46-19 Tigers.
The fourth quarter saw a continuation of some excellent Nevada defensive play. Junior defensive back Ayden Pryor made an outstanding athletic play for a Tiger interception of Wolves QB Burall. In addition, junior DE Grady Stewart came up with a huge sack and 15-yard loss.
The final score would favor Nevada by the 46-19 count. The Tigers go to 2-0 on the young season and will travel to East Newton High School this week to open Big 8 West Division Conference play.
Statistically on offense, Cheaney had 266 yards rushing on 19 carries. Senior Brice Budd gained 174 yards on the ground with two touchdown runs for Nevada. Juniors Gabe Smith and Bodie Thorpe also ran exceptionally hard for Nevada tallying several nice gains. With a 500-yard rushing performance on offense, it again was a stellar night for the Tiger offensive line.
Head Coach Beachler stated, “I liked our defenses ability to create and get some turnovers. I also liked our rush offense. None of the three primary backs we used on Friday night, had more than 50 rushes last year. It was good to see them running the ball like they did.”
The story from long ago was somewhat rewritten Friday night in the hills of Stone County:
Who’s afraid of the Big Bad Wolves?
Not Nevada… not by the play of the Crimson and Gray…
For their house is not made of straw or sticks… but of heart.