Cassel’s Big Plays Power Chatsworth Over Belmont, 24-6

Matt Cassel passed for 248 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for another to lead Chatsworth High to a 24-6 victory over Belmont in a City Division quarterfinal game Wednesday night at Belmont.

The Chancellors, who will play Van Nuys in the semifinals Dec. 4, forced seven Belmont turnovers--six interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Cassel, a 6-foot-4 junior, completed 16 of 25 passes for 249 yards in the first half, when Chatsworth (7-5) took a 21-6 lead. His five-yard scoring run capped a five-play, 73-yard drive on the opening possession to give the Chancellors a 6-0 lead.

Cassel threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Eric Harris on Chatsworth’s next possession. Cassel’s two-point conversion pass to Mark Harris made the score 14-0 midway through the first quarter.

After Belmont (7-5) pulled to within 14-6, Cassel hit Reggie Lee with a 46-yard scoring pass to give Chatsworth a 21-6 lead. Lee finished with six catches for 103 yards, and he had two interceptions in the first half.

The Chancellors struggled offensively in the second half, but four interceptions kept Belmont from mounting a comeback. Mark Harris had two interceptions in the third quarter.

Eric Harris had seven catches for 83 yards.

Quarterback Oscar Perez of Belmont completed 17 of 29 passes for 253 yards and a touchdown, with four interceptions.