Zizzers Battle Back but Fall 45–14 at Branson
The West Plains Zizzers battled back from an early deficit Friday night but could not overcome Branson’s rushing attack and second-half takeaways, falling to the Pirates 45–14 on the road.
Branson entered the season as the two-time defending Ozark Mountain Conference champion. The Pirates’ triple-option offense is directed by senior quarterback Vicente Pastrana, who rushed for 816 yards and 15 touchdowns during the 2025 season.
West Plains trailed 24–6 at halftime before opening the third quarter with a touchdown drive and successful two-point conversion to pull within 10. Branson answered to restore its 17-point advantage, and two fourth-quarter interceptions—including a pick-six—helped the Pirates put the game away.
Final Score: Branson 45, West Plains 14
First Quarter
West Plains kicked off to open the game, and Branson began at its own 45-yard line. A completed pass moved the Pirates to the 42 before Sargeant made a tackle at the 30 following another first down.
Branson gained 10 yards on the ground before Evans made the tackle. Evans followed with another stop, but an offsides penalty against West Plains helped keep the possession moving. Warren limited a lateral run to one yard, setting up third-and-four.
Judd forced the runner out at the 2-yard line, but Pastrana scored on a quarterback keeper on the next play. The extra point gave Branson a 7–0 lead with 8:57 remaining.
After the kickoff reached the end zone, the Zizzers started at their own 20. Combs completed a pass to Wade for a first down at the 31. Marshall carried to the 34 and then the 35 before catching a short pass from Combs at the 37.
Facing fourth-and-three, Roberts punted to the Branson 24. Rucker Freeman made the stop on the return.
Branson picked up a first down at the 40 on a right-side pitch despite a tackle by Stauffer. Allen stopped the next run following a seven-yard gain, and Warren made the tackle as a left-side run reached the West Plains 43 for another first down.
Huxley Freeman and Rucker Freeman combined for a tackle. Branson gained two yards on a pitch to the right before Huxley made the stop on a run up the middle that reached the 31.
Sargeant held a Pastrana keeper to four yards, and Roberts tackled the runner following a short gain. A Branson penalty moved the Pirates back to the 41, but a completed pass reached the 26 before Roberts made the tackle.
A bootleg pass to the right gave Branson a first down at the 12. Maupin stopped a quarterback keeper following a three-yard gain, and Allen tackled the runner at the 5 before the quarter ended.
End of the First Quarter: Branson 7, West Plains 0
Second Quarter
Branson opened the quarter facing third-and-three at the West Plains 5. Strong blocking on the left side cleared the way for a touchdown run. The extra point extended Branson’s lead to 14–0 with 11:53 remaining.
Marshall returned the kickoff to the West Plains 24. Combs completed a pass to Marshall at the 30 and then found Wade at the 33. On third-and-one, Marshall reached the 37 for a first down.
Marshall was stopped on the next carry, and a screen pass to him lost two yards. Combs then scrambled but was sacked at the 31, forcing Roberts to punt. Branson fielded the kick at its 34, where Pabian made the stop.
Roberts tackled a Branson runner at the 41, setting up third-and-three. The Pirates faked a run and pitched left for an apparent first down, but a holding penalty moved them back to the 43.
Branson responded with a right-side run for a first down at the West Plains 45. Rucker Freeman stopped a run up the middle before an injury timeout. Evans walked off the field unassisted.
On the next play, Freeman chased Pastrana out of the pocket, but a personal-foul penalty against West Plains gave Branson a first down at the 32.
Sargeant tackled a runner at the 24 following a right-side pitch. Huxley stopped the next run, but Branson gained enough for a first down at the 23. The Pirates called timeout with 5:13 remaining.
Sargeant forced the runner out on another pitch to the right, and a late holding flag moved Branson back to the 30. Allen made a stop before Huxley and Evans tackled the scrambling quarterback at the 24.
Branson called timeout with 3:24 remaining. A pass fell incomplete under pressure, leaving the Pirates facing fourth-and-12. Branson converted the field goal to take a 17–0 lead with 3:14 left in the half.
Marshall returned the kickoff to the West Plains 16. Combs completed a pass to Patillo at the 24, and the Zizzers called timeout with 3:02 remaining.
Combs was sacked at the 19 but responded with a completion to Patillo at the 31 for a first down. After an incomplete pass intended for Marshall, Combs connected with Patillo deep downfield, and Patillo carried the ball to the Branson 15.
Marshall made a one-handed catch for four yards. Branson called timeout with 1:49 remaining.
Passes intended for Judd and Marshall fell incomplete, and West Plains called timeout with 1:40 left. Combs then found Judd, who leaned across the goal line for the touchdown. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful, leaving Branson ahead 17–6 with 1:34 remaining.
Warren made the tackle at the Branson 30 on the ensuing kickoff, but a personal-foul penalty against West Plains moved the ball to the 40.
Pastrana recovered a bad snap and scrambled out of bounds. Sargeant initially missed the runner on the next play but recovered and raced downfield to make the tackle at the West Plains 23.
Pastrana completed a touchdown pass on the following play. The extra point gave Branson a 24–6 lead with 51 seconds remaining.
West Plains started at its own 20. After a false start, Combs completed a pass to Marshall behind the line, but Branson stopped him. Combs then found Judd at the 16 and kept the ball on the final play before halftime.
Halftime: Branson 24, West Plains 6
Third Quarter
Smith returned the second-half kickoff to the West Plains 39. Combs carried on the opening play and was stopped, but an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty against Branson gave the Zizzers a first down at the Pirates’ 46.
Combs went deep to Wade, but the pass fell incomplete. He then connected with Patillo at the 37. Marshall carried to the 35 before catching consecutive passes from Combs at the 22 and 21, with the second reception moving the chains.
Combs pitched to Smith, who attempted a pass downfield to Marshall, but it fell incomplete. Branson tipped Combs’ next pass at the line.
On third down, Combs found Judd, who broke two tackles and reached the end zone. Following a West Plains timeout, Combs connected with Marshall for the successful two-point conversion. The touchdown and conversion cut Branson’s lead to 24–14 with 9:31 remaining.
Pabian made the tackle at the Branson 41 on the ensuing kickoff return. Judd and Roberts combined to tackle the quarterback following a keeper, leaving the Pirates facing second-and-four at the 47.
Stauffer raced across the field to make the tackle at the West Plains 41. Another quarterback keeper reached the 28 before Maupin made the stop. Branson ran up the middle to the 16, where Roberts made the tackle.
Huxley Freeman chased the runner across the field and made the stop at the 13. A quarterback keeper advanced to the 9 before Huxley and Rucker Freeman combined to tackle the quarterback at the 4.
Branson pitched left on the next play, but Stauffer dropped the runner for a loss at the 8. The Pirates then scored on a quarterback keeper up the middle. The extra point restored Branson’s 17-point advantage at 31–14 with 4:47 remaining.
West Plains began its next possession at its own 35. Passes from Combs intended for Egly and Patillo fell incomplete, with the second deflected by Branson. A deep pass intended for Marshall was also incomplete, forcing the Zizzers to kick the ball away.
The return reached West Plains territory. A flag thrown early in the play was picked up, leaving Branson with possession at the Zizzers’ 32.
Evans and Davis combined to sack the quarterback for a loss. Roberts and Stauffer made the next tackle at the 25, setting up third-and-three. A pass fell incomplete, and a false-start penalty against Branson left the Pirates facing fourth-and-nine at the 31.
Branson converted with a completed pass to the West Plains 17, where Collins made the tackle. Stauffer and Evans combined for a stop on the following play.
The Pirates mishandled a pitch but recovered the ball, and Huxley tackled the runner for a loss. A Branson penalty moved the Pirates back to the 26. Huxley then chased the quarterback from the pocket, and Stauffer finished the play with a tackle for another loss.
Another Branson penalty moved the ball back to the 45. Collins made the tackle at the 34, and the Pirates punted.
West Plains took possession at its own 20. Marshall was stopped on the quarter’s final play.
End of the Third Quarter: Branson 31, West Plains 14
Fourth Quarter
West Plains began the fourth quarter at its own 20-yard line, trailing 31–14. On second down, Combs pitched to Marshall for a two-yard gain.
Branson then intercepted a Combs pass and returned it for a touchdown. The extra point extended the Pirates’ lead to 38–14 with 11:10 remaining.
Following the kickoff, the Zizzers again started at their own 20. Combs connected with Marshall deep downfield, and Marshall powered his way to the Branson 13. Marshall carried to the 10 before Branson tipped away another pass intended for him.
Combs kept the ball and reached the 7, leaving West Plains facing fourth-and-four. Branson intercepted the fourth-down pass in the end zone and took possession at its own 20.
The Pirates opened the possession with a first-down run to the 30. Davis made a tackle following a short gain, and Evans dropped the runner for a loss to set up third-and-12. Branson punted, but Maupin could not secure the ball, and the Pirates recovered at the West Plains 25.
Davis tackled the quarterback on a keeper before Rucker Freeman and Davis combined for a stop at the 19. Davis made another stop, but an offsides penalty against West Plains gave Branson a first down at the 14.
Colvin and Warren tackled the runner at the 5, but Branson scored on the following run. The extra point made it 45–14 with 3:16 remaining.
Smith returned the ensuing kickoff to the West Plains 26. Marshall followed his blockers for eight yards and then carried again to the 45. After a one-yard gain, Marshall crossed midfield to the Branson 48.
Marshall found another opening for a first down at the 44 and carried once more to the 41 before time expired.
Final Score: Branson 45, West Plains 14
West Plains showed resilience after falling behind 24–6, opening the second half with a touchdown and two-point conversion that reduced Branson’s lead to 10.
The Zizzers continued moving the football during the fourth quarter, including a deep completion from Combs to Marshall that reached the Branson 13. However, Branson’s two interceptions and recovery of a muffed punt ended three West Plains possessions and allowed the Pirates to pull away.
West Plains will look to regroup as it continues Ozark Mountain Conference play.
#GoZizzers #TheZizzerZone
