The West Plains Zizzers opened the season in St. Louis with a dominant 43-6 victory over Miller Academy in a game that came to an unusual early ending when the stadium lights lost power during the third quarter.
West Plains trailed 6-0 late in the first quarter before scoring 43 unanswered points. The Zizzers led 21-6 at halftime, then scored three times in the opening minutes of the third quarter—including a pick-six by Huxley Freeman—before the lights went out. After approximately 30 minutes, the game was called with West Plains leading 43-6.
FINAL: WEST PLAINS 43 • MILLER ACADEMY 6
1st Quarter
The Zizzers opened the season in St. Louis against the Miller Academy Phoenix, and West Plains immediately tried to create an opportunity on special teams.
Bevel opened the game with an onside kick, and Hutchinson recovered it at the 46, giving the Zizzers possession.
Combs connected with Marshall for a one-yard gain before a Zizzer false start backed West Plains up. Facing second-and-14, Marshall carried for four yards, and Combs followed with a completion to Hufstdler.
Roberts punted the ball down to the Miller Academy 8.
The Zizzer defense immediately pushed the Phoenix backward, stopping the first run for a loss. Roberts tackled the next runner after a four-yard gain.
A Miller Academy false start brought up third-and-14, but the Phoenix completed a pass for a first down at the 20.
Rucker Freeman and company then stopped the run for a four-yard loss.
Miller Academy responded with another completion for a first down at the 35, where Judd made the tackle.
A holding penalty backed up the Phoenix, but they followed with a pass completion for 10 yards. With the ball at the 40 and Miller Academy facing second-and-5, the Zizzer defensive line stopped the run.
The quarterback went down on the next sequence, but a late-hit penalty against West Plains gave Miller Academy a first down at the 48.
A delay-of-game penalty moved the Phoenix backward.
The next pass fell incomplete under good coverage. Roberts and company then stopped a play for a two-yard loss, bringing up third-and-12.
Another pass fell incomplete, forcing Miller Academy to punt.
The Zizzers touched the punt, however, and Miller Academy recovered at the West Plains 38.
The Phoenix took advantage of the turnover with a touchdown pass.
The two-point conversion failed, giving Miller Academy a 6-0 lead with 2:16 remaining in the first quarter.
Roberts returned the ensuing kickoff to the West Plains 41.
Marshall gained four yards, and then West Plains went to Maupin on a reverse. Maupin broke loose all the way to the Miller Academy 20.
Marshall followed with a nine-yard run and then picked up the first down.
Marshall got the ball again and powered into the end zone for the Zizzer touchdown.
Miller Academy called timeout before the extra point.
Bevel converted the kick, giving West Plains a 7-6 lead.
END 1ST: WEST PLAINS 7 • MILLER ACADEMY 6
2nd Quarter
The Zizzers kicked off to begin the second quarter, and Miller Academy started at its own 22.
A delay-of-game penalty immediately moved the Phoenix backward.
Rucker Freeman tackled the runner after a short three-yard gain. The next pass fell incomplete, and Warren nearly came away with an interception on the following play.
Miller Academy’s punt was short, giving West Plains the ball at the 37.
An offside penalty against the Phoenix helped the Zizzers before Marshall gained two yards.
Combs then found Judd for a completion all the way to the Miller Academy 19 and a first down.
On the next scoring sequence, Marshall got strong blocking and raced into the end zone for the touchdown.
Bevel added the extra point, extending the West Plains lead to 14-6 with 9:37 remaining in the half.
Miller Academy returned the kickoff to the 37.
The Phoenix connected on a long pass, with Sargeant making the tackle.
That gave Miller Academy a first down at the West Plains 17.
The Phoenix called timeout with 8:59 remaining.
Miller Academy then completed another pass for a first down at the 8.
West Plains stopped the next run for a loss, but a Zizzer facemask penalty moved the ball to the 5.
A Miller Academy delay-of-game penalty pushed the Phoenix back to the 9.
Rucker Freeman, Stauffer and company then stopped the next play for a loss.
Sargeant broke up a pass in the end zone, and Judd tackled the quarterback on a keeper.
That left Miller Academy facing fourth-and-13.
The fourth-down pass fell incomplete, and West Plains took over on downs at its own 13.
Combs connected with Roberts, who broke free and ran all the way to the Miller Academy 10.
Marshall was held to a one-yard gain.
Combs then found Judd for the touchdown.
Bevel kicked the extra point, pushing the Zizzer lead to 21-6 with 4:37 remaining in the half.
Bevel kicked off, and Hutchinson made the tackle at the Miller Academy 30.
The Phoenix completed a pass for nine yards, then another for a first down, with Evans making the tackle at the 46.
Three straight passes fell incomplete, forcing Miller Academy to punt to the West Plains 35.
An offside penalty against the Phoenix followed.
Marshall broke loose for 20 yards, but a West Plains penalty wiped out much of the gain and moved the ball back to the 47.
Facing second-and-2, Combs connected with Judd for a first down at the 47.
The Phoenix then recovered a Zizzer fumble.
Evans tackled the Miller Academy quarterback on a keeper. During the sequence, Barbrow was seen limping off the field.
Miller Academy completed a long pass, but Maupin came away with the football at the 20.
A fumble followed, with the Zizzers recovering.
Combs went deep to Wade, but the pass fell incomplete. His next attempt to Judd was also incomplete, and Miller Academy took over at the 21.
A play that initially appeared to be a fumble was ruled down.
The next pass fell incomplete.
Facing third-and-10, the Miller Academy quarterback was sacked. A holding penalty against the Phoenix was declined.
West Plains called timeout with 42 seconds remaining.
On fourth-and-15, Miller Academy threw incomplete, but pass interference was called against the Zizzers, extending the drive.
The Phoenix then completed a short pass that turned into an apparent touchdown run, but a Miller Academy penalty wiped out the score and moved the ball back to the 19.
Miller Academy called timeout with 32 seconds remaining.
The Phoenix completed a pass, then completed another on second-and-11, with Judd making the tackle.
The half ended with West Plains still in control.
HALFTIME: WEST PLAINS 21 • MILLER ACADEMY 6
3rd Quarter
West Plains wasted no time taking control after halftime.
Smith returned the opening kickoff of the second half all the way to the 48.
Combs then faked the handoff to Marshall, kept the football and ran all the way to the end zone for a touchdown.
Marshall carried on the two-point conversion and got in.
West Plains led 29-6 with 11:39 remaining in the third quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff return, Warren made the tackle at the 21.
Miller Academy fumbled, but the Phoenix recovered the ball.
Roberts tackled the receiver on a short pass play, and Miller Academy soon faced third-and-8.
The Phoenix quarterback’s next pass was knocked high into the air.
Huxley Freeman came down with it and took the interception all the way to the end zone for a Zizzer touchdown.
Bevel added the extra point.
West Plains led 36-6 with 10:05 remaining.
The Zizzers came up with another huge special-teams play on the following kickoff.
Miller Academy fumbled the return, and West Plains recovered at the Phoenix 44.
Smith carried for a first down.
Marshall then broke loose all the way to the 5.
Miller Academy called timeout with 9:14 remaining.
Marshall was stopped on the next carry but got the ball again and ran it into the end zone for the touchdown.
Bevel converted the extra point.
The Zizzers had exploded to a 43-6 lead with 8:27 remaining in the third quarter.
Miller Academy began its next possession at the 20.
Then the stadium lights went out.
Play was halted as both teams waited for power to be restored. After approximately 30 minutes, the decision was made to call the game.
Final
WEST PLAINS 43 • MILLER ACADEMY 6
West Plains opened the season by overcoming an early 6-0 deficit and scoring 43 unanswered points before the game was brought to an early end by the stadium power outage.
The Zizzers produced touchdowns on offense, defense and special-teams-created opportunities. Marshall scored three times on the ground, Combs scored on a long quarterback keeper and connected with Judd for another touchdown, while Huxley Freeman returned an interception for a score.
West Plains also repeatedly created extra possessions, beginning with Hutchinson’s recovery of the opening onside kick and continuing with turnovers and special-teams recoveries throughout the game.
By the time the lights went dark in St. Louis, the Zizzers had turned a 6-0 first-quarter deficit into a commanding 43-6 season-opening victory.
Zizzers win, 43-6.
#GoZizzers #TheZizzerZone
