Zizzers Fall 45–14 on the Road at Branson
The West Plains Zizzers battled on the road Friday night but could not overcome Branson’s early lead and second-half takeaways, falling to the Pirates 45–14.
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, however, before 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 sideways run to one yard, setting up third-and-four.
Judd forced the runner out at the 2-yard line, but Branson scored on a quarterback keeper on the next play. The extra point gave the Pirates 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. 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 after 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 quarterback keeper to four yards, and Roberts tackled the runner on 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 after 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. Freeman stopped a run up the middle before an injury timeout. Evans walked off the field unassisted.
On the next play, Freeman chased the Branson quarterback out, but a personal-foul penalty against West Plains gave the Pirates a first down at the 32.
Sargeant tackled a runner at the 24 after 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 flag for holding 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 the score 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.
The Branson quarterback recovered a bad snap and scrambled out of bounds. Sargeant initially missed the runner but recovered and raced downfield to make the tackle at the West Plains 23.
Branson completed a touchdown pass on the next play. The extra point gave the Pirates 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 was stopped on a carry, but an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty against Branson gave the Zizzers a first down at the Pirates’ 46.
A deep pass intended for Wade fell incomplete before Combs connected with Patillo at the 37. Marshall ran to the 35 and then caught passes from Combs at the 22 and 21, with the second reception moving the chains.
Combs pitched to Smith, who attempted a pass 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 two-point conversion. The Zizzers had cut Branson’s lead
