Zizzers Defeat Waynesville At Home 48 to 26
After a slow Zizzer start, a rainbow and a visit from the Zizzer mascot (lightning bolt), the Zizzers return from an hour-long weather delay to stage a massive, unanswered 34-point run to win the game at home! A strange start to the season, but a win is a win!
It was a warm, humid evening as the Zizzers first game of the season opened up and a light rain began, eventually leading to a rare double rainbow at Zizzer stadium. But that was about all the nice stuff the Zizzers were going to see for quite a while as the Waynesville Tigers opened the game with a 60-yard kickoff return touchdown.
Eventually, the Zizzers were able to answer back with a 58-yard touchdown run from #5 Brayden Lidgard (sophomore – see the image above). And with a Trey Cressman extra point, the game was tied up at 7, and it seemed like momentum might be moving for the Zizzers. Next, the Zizzer defense forced a turnover on downs and we had the ball again! But a Tiger interception put the ball back in their hands, and they capitalized on it to earn another touchdown. With a missed extra point, the score was 13-7. Thoughts of momentum were starting to wane.
Next, the Zizzers turned the ball over again after a fumble, and Waynesville took the opportunity to lead a drive for yet another touchdown. The Tigers attempted a 2-point conversion, but the Zizzer defense said, “NO!”. 19-7 Tigers lead, and the Zizzers knew they had some hard work ahead if they wanted to win it.
The Zizzers put together a great drive with QB Rackley #8 passing to TE Daniel Cobb#45. Then a Lidgard first down carry. A facemask penalty on the Tigers came next, and it seemed like momentum might be going our way. But another Zizzer turnover (fumble) meant the Tigers would get the ball inside the redzone. End of 1st qtr.
Light rain started with the 2nd qtr, and both teams lead unsuccessful drives ending in punts. Waynesville fumbled, and the Zizzers began a march downfield but couldn’t complete it. The Zizzer defense shut down the next Waynesville drive, and the Zizzer mascot shut down the game.
After a nearly hour-long weather delay, the teams returned to the field to finish out the final 6 minutes of the first half. And after a severely shortened half-time, the Zizzers were ready to mount their comeback campaign. The crowd seemed about half as large as before, but the Zizzers were going to fight as if the stadium was packed.
Junior Lane Jett #39 nailed a redzone touchdown, and Cressman nailed the extra point. 19-14 Zizzers trail by 5, and suddenly things seem a lot brighter! Except that the Tigers answer back with a touchdown and it’s 26-14 in the 3rd quarter.
But the third quarter is where the magic happens so many times – and this time the lightning strike was from the Zizzers, not mother nature. Rackley to Hackworth for a 45-yard touchdown pass and a Cressman extra point. 26-21 Zizzers trail.
Waynesville fumbles on their next set of downs and Lidgard gets to score a touchdown! 27-21 Zizzers lead!
Then, ANOTHER Lidgard touchdown! 34-21 Zizzers lead!
And senior safety Andrew Wheeler intercepts a Tiger pass and runs it down to the redzone. Zizzer offense pushes and junior Ian Ary grabs a 1-yard touchdown to combine with Cressman’s kick for a score of 41-26!
Wheeler picks off yet another Tiger pass which sets up a 60-yard run for Lidgard, and a Cressman extra point for a final score of 48-26.
To those who never returned after the weather delay – YOU MISSED OUT! This was quite an exciting comeback! And if you were wondering if we had a ball carrier in the absence of last year’s superstar Keegan Hoopes – the answer is YES we do! Lidgard carried the ball 28 times for a total of 267 yards and FOUR touchdowns! Not bad for a sophomore, eh?
Rackley got 14 of 23 completions for 141 yards with 3 of those completions to Hackworth (who grabbed a touchdown). This was a nice way to start the season! Next up? Zizzers travel to Camdenton for game 2 of the season.
Let’s Go Zizzers!
