Zizzers Are The 2018 Ozark Conference Champs!
For the first time since the 1969 season, the Zizzers were undefeated in regular season play and earned the Conference Championship title! Except this time it is the Ozark Conference Championship, not the SCA. Now they’ll head into the post-season with hopes of earning the right to play for the state championship. Go Zizzers!
The Zizzers came into their final game of the season with several injuries. In fact, injuries have plagued this season’s Zizzers from the pre-season up to now. And it showed in the final score: 56-18. Glendale’s explosive passing offense scored more points on our Zizzer defense than any other team this year. It hurt to have our backfield play stoppers, Weston Mitchell and Lane Jett, on the sidelines – especially against this passing offense.
I spoke to both of them during the game and they admitted, that although they were injured, it was more painful to watch the game from the sidelines than to be playing. They knew Glendale’s offense had found a soft spot in the mighty Zizzer Defense with their passing game. But even so, Glendale’s aerial assault was only able to score 18 points. Our Zizzer Defense showed they could adapt and overcome – and that’s what they did.
As our Zizzer Defense was forcing Glendale to work hard for every passing yard they earned, our Zizzer Offense was pushing hard and consistently driving the ball into the end zone. QB Connor Rackley gave the Falcons several different offensive threats to contend with, not to mention the ever present threat of Brayden Lidgard’s rushing game (who scored his 60th varsity touchdown on the first score of the game).
In fact, Lidgard scored the first two touchdowns of the game, followed by two successful Trey Cressman extra point kicks. Cressman didn’t miss an extra point all game, and by the end of the game had set a new Zizzer record of 51 extra points in a season – and we still have more games to play in the post-season! Wow!
Here’s how the plays went down…
Cressman kicked off to Glendale to start the game and immediately the Falcons pass for a first down. Another pass, incomplete. And again. Brady Robins #69 sacks the QB forcing Glendale to punt to the 46.
Zizzers take over; Rackley to Cobb#45 – almost for the first down. Lidgard drives for the first down. Marcak#18 carries to the 20 yard line. Lidgard to the 7. Lidgard for the TD! Cressman kicks the extra point. Zizzers are up 7-0 at 9:49 in the first qtr.
Falcons get the ball and go for a short screen play, incomplete. Zizzer penalty takes it to the 35 yard line. Screen again – completion. Marcak#18 tackles. Falcons pass, for a first down. Taylor#36 tackles. Falcons screen, incomplete. Falcons pass, first down. Parker#34 tackles. Falcons lateral, incomplete. Pass, incomplete. Seley#29 tackles with Ary#22. Zizzer Defense forces a turn over on downs with 6:15 in the first qtr.
Lidgard drives for 4. Rackley to Warren#87, completion, first down on the 33. Another short to Warren, completion. Ligard breaks free and gets to the 2 yard line! Zizzer holding penalty takes it back. Rackley to Lidgard, complete. Lidgard carries to the 22 for the first down. Rackley to Cobb, incomplete. Lidgard drives for the TD! Cressman kicks the extra point. Zizzers lead 14-0 at 3:57 in the first qtr.
Falcons penalty from previous play, means the Zizzers get to kick off to them from inside their territory. Zizzers attempt a 45-yard field goal – Cressman’s kick just barely misses its mark. Falcons take over. McGinley blocks the short screen pass. Another screen, incomplete. Seley tackles on the pass. Falcons get a first down. Another screen for 8 yards and Washington#42 for the take down. Taylor gets the next tackle. Short pass, incomplete. Long pass, incomplete. 4th down – time out Zizzers. Falcons pass is blocked, but Zizzers are called for pass interference, first down Falcons. Kenslow#4 tackles. Falcons get a penalty. Pass, complete, Parker tackles. McGinley blocks another pass. Time out, Glendale. End of first qtr.
Glendale gets the first down. Falcons pass into the end zone, but the received gets called for a penalty! Ball goes back. Parker tackles. Falcons score, no extra point. Zizzers lead 14-6 with 10:23 in the 2nd qtr. Falcons attempt an offside kick and they recover the ball. Lair#40 swats away their pass. Short screen, McGinley stops it! Falcons incomplete pass. Bad snap, Lair makes a big tackle. Marcak almost grabs an interception! Zizzer Defense hands the ball over to the offense!
Rackley keeps and runs it to the 5! Zizzer penalty takes it all the way back to the 26. Lidgard carries to the 3. Lidgard for the TD! Cressman’s kick is good. Zizzers are up 21-6 with 7:32 in the 2nd qtr.
Washington tackles on the 10 yard line after a long run on the kickoff return. Falcons pass, first down. Taylor gets a tackle. Incomplete pass. Screen, first down. Falcons score, but Washington sacks the QB on the 2-point conversion attempt – no good! Zizzers lead Glendale 21-12 with 4:54 in the 2nd qtr.
Dalton Lucas gets the kickoff, drops it on a big bounce, recovers it and gets to the 20! Lidgard takes it 80 yards for the TD! Cressman’s kick is good. Zizzers are up 28-12 at 4:27 in the 2nd qtr. That took less than 30 seconds on the play clock.
Falcons start on the 15. Screen pass, complete but a penalty on the Falcons. Parker gets a BIG tackle – you could hear it all the way across the field. Falcons pass, complete. Ary#22 tackles, penalty on the Falcons. 2nd and 17 on the 8 yard line, Falcons go long and get the first down, but Zizzer fans are certain the receiver stepped out of bounds. No matter because Kole Taylor snags the interception on the next play and takes it all the way to the end zone! Cressman’s kick is good. Zizzers lead 35-12 with 1:42 left in the first half.
Zizzers kickoff, Ary#22 tackles. Falcons at the 26. Pass complete, holding on Zizzers. First down on the 35. Another pass, personal foul called on Zizzers, first down on the 42. Incomplete pass. Parker smacks the ball away! Pass imcomplete. 4th down and the Zizzers stop the Falcon’s drive! Rackley to Lidgard on the 38! First down! 51 seconds left. Rackley to Warren who fights his way all the way to the end zone! Cressman’s kick is good. Zizzers lead Glendale 42-12 with 41 seconds in the half.
3rd quarter. Lidgard returns the kickoff to the 45. Lidgard drives for the first down to the 42. Rackley to Ackerson#88 for 3! Penalty on the Falcons takes it to the 24. Lidgard drives! Falcons penalty takes it to the 8. Lucas drives for the TD! Cressman’s kick is good! #Zizzers lead Falcons 49-12, 11:08 third quarter.
Falcons receive and get to the 19. Turbo clock. Penalty flags everywhere. Offsetting penalties. Pass incomplete. Again. Pass complete. 4th and 4 on the 25. First down. Ary#44 knocks it loose but it goes out. Pass interference Zizzers. First down on the 50. Incomplete pass. Again. 3rd and 10 at the 50. Pass under pressure, completed, but short 4. 4th and 4. Time out Falcons. 4:56 third quarter. First down, Marcak tackles hard on the 36. Pass complete, Taylor tackles on the 33. QB keeps, McGinley tackles for a loss of 1. 3rd and 8. Pass incomplete. Agnew pressured, Collins almost snags it! #ZizzerDefense hands it over to offense.
Rackley keeps for 7! 2nd and 3. Lidgard breaks free and goes to the 21! Cobb drives for 8! Cobb for the TD! 19 seconds in the 3rd. Cressman’s kick is good. #Zizzers lead 56-12.
Fourth quarter. Kenslow and McGinley block the pass. Ary#22 almost snagged it! Falcons first down pass, Ary#22 tackles. Ary#44 tackles. Washington knocks it away! Falcons first down on a long pass to the 28. Lair pressured incomplete. Taylor blocks the pass! Falcons complete. 4th and 4 on the 22. Seley knocks it away, but offside on Zizzers. First down on the 17. Seley knocks it away again. Pass incomplete under pressure. Marcak knocks it away! 4th and 10 on the 17. Ball knocked out of his hands, QB recovers it and passes for the TD. 4 minutes remain. 2 point conversion no good. #Zizzers lead Glendale 56-18. Turbo clock is ticking. 2:32.
Lucas returns the kickoff to the 18. Zizzers take a knee. Game over. #Zizzers defeat Glendale 56-18. Zizzers are undefeated! Ozark Conference Championship!
