By By SCOTT NOVAK / Vigilant/Argus
GOBLES -- The host Tigers scored 23 fourth quarter points to knock the Cassopolis Rangers from the Michigan High School Athletic Association playoffs Friday night.
The Rangers (6-4) did not play particularly well in the contest, but still were leading 12-10 after Marcus Bass picked up a Gobles fumble and returned it 96 yards for a touchdown.
The Ranges missed on the extra point attempt as they went for two to make it a three-point contest.
It was all Gobles from there.
David Arrasmith scored the second of his two touchdowns on a one-yard run to cap a nice drive and then Josh Dietrich added the two-point conversion to make it a 18-12 contest late in the fourth quarter.
Dietrich then ended any chance of a Rangers' comeback as he scored on an 11-yard run to make it 26-12 following his two-point conversion run.
Gobles opened the scoring with a 32-yard field goal by Brody White.
The Rangers took a 6-3 lead into the lockerroom at halftime as Eric Brown scored on a 34-yard pass from Ashton Danzy in the closing seconds of the first half.
Gobles blocked the extra point kick to trail by only a field goal at halftime.
Neither team put up points in the third quarter as the defenses continued to control the game.
However, in the fourth quarter, the Gobles offense exploded and advanced the Tigers to the regionals this coming weekend.
Gobles opened the fourth quarter scoring on an eight-yard run by Arrasmith and a White extra point kick.
Leading 10-6 and heading in for another score, the Rangers' defense once again came to the rescue just as it had all season.
It also appeared that Gobles was going to shoot itself in the foot just as it had in Week No. 2 when it lost to the Rangers 20-8.
In that contest the Tigers turned the ball over on numerous occasions, including one that lead to a Cassopolis touchdown.
This time, however, the Tigers (8-3) were able to overcome the turnover and roll to the victory.
Cassopolis was limited to 60 yards rushing and 97 yards passing. Gobles rushed for 272 yards, including 127 from Arrasmith.
Cassopolis 0 6 0 6 -- 12
Gobles 0 3 0 23 -- 26
G-Brody White 32 field goal.
C-Eric Brown 34 pass from Ashton Danzy (kick blocked).
G-David Arrasmith 8 run (White kick).
C-Marcus Bass 96 fumble return (run failed).
G-Arrasmith 1 run (Josh Dietrich run).
G-Dietrich 11 run (Dietrich run)
REGION 3
DISTRICT 1
Cassopolis 22, Hartford 19 (OT)
Gobles 30, Marcellus 7
District Final: Gobles 26, Cassopolis 12
DISTRICT 2
Hudson 28, Dansville 0
Union City 21, Reading 7
District Final: Hudson 40, Union City 14
Regional Final: Gobles (8-3) at Hudson (9-2) Friday, 7 p.m.