The West Plains Zizzers overcame a 14-7 halftime deficit and scored 19 unanswered points in the second half to defeat old SCA rival Mountain Grove 26-14 in the home opener.
After Mountain Grove controlled much of the first half, West Plains tied the game midway through the third quarter, took the lead later in the period and added another touchdown in the fourth. The Zizzer defense then shut down the Panthers down the stretch to finish the comeback.
FINAL: WEST PLAINS 26 • MOUNTAIN GROVE 14
1st Quarter
The Zizzers kicked off to open the game, and Mountain Grove started at its own 31, where Warren made the tackle.
The Panthers gained three yards on the next play, with Rucker Freeman and company making the stop. Rucker Freeman found the runner again on the following play and brought him down, setting up third-and-2.
The Mountain Grove quarterback kept the ball and picked up the first down at the 42, with Evans making the tackle.
Maupin made the next tackle at the Zizzer 33. The West Plains defense followed by stopping a run for a one-yard loss, and Rucker Freeman then stopped the quarterback on another keeper.
Facing third-and-10, the Panthers picked up six yards before Stauffer made the tackle.
Pabian tackled the quarterback on another keeper as Mountain Grove moved the ball down to the 5.
Rucker Freeman and company made another stop before Judd tackled the runner on a short carry.
Facing third-and-3, Mountain Grove pushed the ball to the 1, where Davis made the tackle.
The Panthers scored on the next play, and the extra point gave Mountain Grove a 7-0 lead with 4:14 remaining.
The ensuing kickoff went out of bounds, giving West Plains the ball at the 35.
The Zizzers needed only one play to answer.
Combs connected with Patillo, who took it all the way to the end zone for the touchdown.
Bevel kicked the extra point, tying the game 7-7 with 4:06 remaining.
West Plains kicked off, and Warren made the tackle at the Mountain Grove 20.
Sargeant tackled the quarterback on a keeper at the 31. Warren then stopped a run after an eight-yard gain.
A personal-foul penalty against Mountain Grove pushed the Panthers back to the 26.
Allen and Rucker Freeman combined to stop the quarterback on a keeper at the 30.
Rucker Freeman then stopped a run for a two-yard loss.
The quarterback kept the ball again and reached the 43, where Judd made the tackle for a first down.
Mountain Grove ran a sweep to the left, with Pabian and Maupin making the tackle at the Zizzer 40.
Judd stopped a pitch to the right for no gain as the first quarter ended.
END 1ST: WEST PLAINS 7 • MOUNTAIN GROVE 7
2nd Quarter
Mountain Grove opened the second quarter still in possession.
The Panthers appeared to fumble, with West Plains recovering, but the play had been blown dead before the fumble.
That left Mountain Grove facing third-and-15.
A delay-of-game penalty pushed the Panthers back even farther, setting up third-and-20 at midfield.
Judd stopped the quarterback on a keeper at the Zizzer 42, bringing up fourth-and-12.
Mountain Grove punted, pinning West Plains at its own 4.
Combs connected with Marshall, who moved the ball out to the 15.
Combs then found Schofield for three yards.
West Plains tried a reverse to Marshall. The ball came loose, but Marshall recovered the fumble.
Combs connected with Smith to the 20, leaving the Zizzers facing fourth-and-5.
West Plains called timeout with 8:01 remaining.
Roberts punted, and the play-by-play next has Mountain Grove with the ball at the Zizzer 32.
The Panthers quickly broke a run down to the West Plains 13, where Maupin made the tackle.
The quarterback kept the ball for five yards before Sargeant made the stop.
Mountain Grove then moved the ball to the 4, with Warren making the tackle and Maupin assisting.
The Panthers scored the touchdown, and the extra point gave Mountain Grove a 14-7 lead with 5:34 remaining.
A timeout followed.
Mountain Grove kicked off, but a penalty forced the Panthers to kick again.
On the replay, Smith returned the kickoff all the way to the Mountain Grove 38.
Marshall carried to the 34.
Combs completed a pass to Judd, but a Zizzer penalty moved the ball backward.
Marshall picked up two yards, leaving West Plains facing third-and-8.
Combs connected with Marshall for two more, bringing up fourth down.
On fourth down, Combs went back to Judd for a completion and a first down at the Mountain Grove 26.
Marshall then blasted through the defense to the 10.
He was stopped on the next carry, and the ball came loose.
Mountain Grove recovered the fumble at the 21.
The Panthers ran a reverse, with Warren making the tackle at the 25.
The quarterback then kept the ball, and Maupin made the tackle at the 40 after a first-down gain.
Mountain Grove pitched right, and Maupin forced the runner out at midfield.
The Panthers picked up four yards on the next play.
Mountain Grove called timeout with 38 seconds remaining.
An encroachment penalty against West Plains moved the ball forward.
Rucker Freeman tackled the quarterback on a keeper as Mountain Grove picked up a first down at the Zizzer 37.
Allen then tackled the quarterback for a loss.
The West Plains defense stopped the next run.
With 5 seconds remaining, Roberts made the tackle on the final play of the half.
HALFTIME: MOUNTAIN GROVE 14 • WEST PLAINS 7
3rd Quarter
Mountain Grove kicked off to begin the second half, and Smith returned the ball all the way to the West Plains 46.
Marshall carried to midfield.
He ran again to the Mountain Grove 47, then picked up the first down at the 43.
Marshall gained three more.
With good blocking from Gerdes, Marshall broke through to the 32.
He followed his blockers again and powered all the way to the 17.
Marshall carried to the 11 before an illegal-procedure penalty against West Plains moved the Zizzers backward.
Combs connected with Schofield at the Mountain Grove 4 for a first down.
Marshall then blasted into the end zone for the touchdown.
Bevel kicked the extra point, tying the game 14-14 with 7:33 remaining in the third quarter.
West Plains kicked off, and Huxley Freeman made the tackle at the Mountain Grove 25.
A Panthers penalty moved the ball backward.
Pabian tackled the runner for a loss, leaving Mountain Grove facing second-and-18.
Evans made the next stop for another loss.
Facing third-and-21, Rucker Freeman and Evans combined for the stop.
The Panthers were forced to punt.
The play-by-play records the Zizzers with the ball at the Mountain Grove 35.
Marshall immediately blasted his way to the 22 for a first down.
He followed with a three-yard gain.
An illegal-procedure penalty against West Plains moved the ball back.
Marshall gained two before carrying again to the 17, leaving the Zizzers facing fourth-and-5.
West Plains called timeout with 3:04 remaining.
On fourth down, Combs kept the ball and fought for the first down.
The officials measured.
Good — first down at the Mountain Grove 12.
Marshall followed his blockers to the 6.
Marshall then powered into the end zone for the touchdown.
Flags were thrown on the play.
Bevel attempted the extra point, but the kick hit the goal post.
West Plains had taken its first lead of the night, 20-14, with 2:18 remaining in the third quarter.
The Zizzers kicked off, but a penalty forced the kick to be replayed.
Mountain Grove eventually started at its own 30.
Rucker Freeman stopped the next run after a three-yard gain.
Davis and Warren combined on the tackle as Mountain Grove picked up a first down at midfield.
A penalty moved the ball forward.
The Panthers gained two yards on the next run as the third quarter came to an end.
END 3RD: WEST PLAINS 20 • MOUNTAIN GROVE 14
4th Quarter
Mountain Grove opened the fourth quarter at the West Plains 44 facing second-and-4.
The quarterback kept the ball, but Allen made the stop.
Facing third-and-2, the Panthers picked up the first down at the 36, where Judd made the tackle.
Rucker Freeman and Evans then combined to stop the next play for a loss, setting up second-and-11.
Roberts made the next stop.
On third-and-11, Sargeant tackled the runner for a one-yard loss.
That brought up fourth-and-11.
The Zizzer defense made the stop, and West Plains took over on downs.
Marshall gained three yards on the first play of the possession.
He followed with another two.
Then Combs went to the air.
Combs connected with Judd, who took it all the way to the end zone for the touchdown.
Marshall carried on the two-point conversion attempt but was stopped.
West Plains extended its lead to 26-14 with 7:45 remaining.
The Zizzers kicked off, and Roberts made the tackle at the Mountain Grove 46.
Rucker Freeman stopped the next run after one yard.
Evans made the tackle following a short two-yard gain.
Warren then forced the runner out at the West Plains 44.
Mountain Grove faced fourth-and-1.
Rucker Freeman broke through and stopped the play for a loss, giving the Zizzers possession at their own 46.
With the lead and the clock now working in their favor, West Plains turned back to Marshall.
Marshall gained three yards.
He carried again to the Mountain Grove 45.
Facing third-and-1, Marshall picked up the first down at the 41.
Marshall followed with a run to the 35.
He gained another two yards.
Facing third-and-2, Marshall was stopped.
West Plains called timeout with 1:23 remaining.
Marshall got the ball again and picked up the first down at the Mountain Grove 30.
That was enough.
Combs took a knee, and the remaining time ran off the clock.
Final
WEST PLAINS 26 • MOUNTAIN GROVE 14
The Zizzers found themselves trailing 14-7 at halftime but completely changed the game after the break.
West Plains opened the third quarter with a long, methodical touchdown drive capped by Marshall’s score to tie the game. The defense then forced Mountain Grove backward on consecutive plays, giving the offense another opportunity.
Marshall scored again to give West Plains a 20-14 advantage, and Combs’ fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Judd extended the lead to 26-14.
The defense did the rest.
With Mountain Grove facing fourth-and-1 late in the fourth quarter, Rucker Freeman made the stop for a loss, and West Plains used Marshall and the running game to drain the remaining clock.
After trailing by seven at halftime, the Zizzers outscored Mountain Grove 19-0 in the second half to secure the home-opening victory.
Zizzers win, 26-14.
#GoZizzers #TheZizzerZone
