The West Plains Zizzers went on the road and came away with a 27-20 victory over Bolivar after a back-and-forth battle that remained undecided until the final minutes.
West Plains led 14-7 at halftime before Bolivar tied the game in the third quarter. The Zizzers responded with two fourth-quarter touchdowns, then recovered an onside kick and finished the night in victory formation to secure the road win.
FINAL: WEST PLAINS 27 • BOLIVAR 20
1st Quarter
The Zizzers received the opening kickoff and started at their own 20-yard line. Combs opened with a screen to Smith for five yards, then connected with Marshall for a first down at the 32.
Marshall was stopped on the next play before picking up three yards. Combs then got outside the pocket and found Wade for a first down at midfield.
Marshall gained three before Combs faked the handoff and kept it for another three. Marshall then blasted through to the Bolivar 35 and followed with a run to the 29.
After Marshall was stopped, the Zizzers faced third-and-3. Marshall carried again and came up just short of the line to gain, setting up fourth-and-1. He got the call again and picked up the first down at the Bolivar 24.
Marshall continued to move the chains, running to the 15 to set up second-and-1. He carried to the 10, then to the 7 before Bolivar finally stopped him.
Combs tried to go to Marshall through the air, but the pass fell incomplete. His next pass intended for Dupler was also incomplete, and Bolivar took over on downs at its own 7 with 3:06 remaining.
The Zizzer defense immediately pushed Bolivar backward. Allen blasted through to the quarterback for a loss, moving the ball back to the 2.
Bolivar answered with a quarterback keeper for 11 yards before Evans made the tackle. Facing third-and-3, Bolivar was called for delay of game, moving the ball back to the 9.
The quarterback kept again, with Stauffer and Davis making the tackle at the 15 and forcing fourth-and-3.
Bolivar punted, and Maupin returned the kick all the way to the Bolivar 16, giving the Zizzers excellent field position.
Combs pitched to Marshall for a one-yard gain as the first quarter came to an end.
END 1ST: WEST PLAINS 0 • BOLIVAR 0
2nd Quarter
West Plains opened the second quarter at the Bolivar 15 facing second-and-9.
Combs threw incomplete to Marshall, then incomplete to Patillo, bringing up fourth-and-9. The Zizzers called timeout with 11:52 remaining.
On fourth down, Combs threw into the end zone, but the ball was popped up and fell incomplete. Bolivar took over at its own 15.
A Bolivar pass was tipped and fell incomplete. Maupin then delivered a big hit, with Huxley Freeman helping on the stop.
Maupin made another tackle at the 29, but Bolivar picked up the first down. Huxley Freeman pressured the quarterback on a keeper, and Sargeant made the tackle at the 30.
Evans and Allen then pressured the quarterback out, and Bolivar followed with a short completion for four yards.
Bolivar punted to the West Plains 31, but a Zizzer penalty moved the ball all the way back to the 16.
Marshall ran to the 20 before Combs connected with Patillo for a first down at the 33.
An illegal procedure penalty pushed West Plains back to the 28. Combs threw incomplete to Dupler, and his next pass was intercepted at the 45.
Bolivar gained two on the ground before Evans made the tackle. Rucker Freeman then stopped the next run after four yards.
Facing third-and-4, Bolivar completed a pass, but Judd made the tackle short of the line to gain.
That set up fourth-and-1 at the 36.
Bolivar completed a pass down the left side, with Roberts making the tackle at the 27 for a first down.
Stauffer and Davis combined on a tackle, then Judd stopped the quarterback on a keeper at the 18.
Facing third-and-1, Allen got through and sacked the quarterback back at the 22.
Bolivar responded with a completion to the 14, where Maupin made contact and finished the tackle for another first down.
Rucker Freeman and Stauffer combined for a one-yard loss, but Bolivar later connected on a touchdown pass.
The extra point was good, giving Bolivar a 7-0 lead with 3:04 remaining in the half.
Smith gave West Plains an immediate spark by returning the kickoff all the way to the Bolivar 42.
Combs connected with Dupler for a completion to the 20.
Marshall carried to the 14, then picked up a first down at the 9. He moved the ball to the 4 before running it into the end zone for the touchdown.
Cobb kicked the extra point, tying the game at 7 with 1:40 remaining.
Then came one of the most unusual—and important—sequences of the night.
The Zizzers attempted an onside kick that Bolivar initially recovered, but a West Plains penalty forced a replay.
West Plains kicked again to the Bolivar 18, but that play was also replayed.
On the third attempt, the Zizzers kicked from the 30—and West Plains recovered the kickoff at the Bolivar 31.
Combs kept it to the 26, then connected with Judd at the 21.
Combs went back to Judd for another completion at the 15.
An illegal procedure penalty moved West Plains back five yards, but Combs answered by finding Patillo for a first down at the 7.
Marshall carried to the 3 before being stopped behind the line on the next play. He was slow to get up afterward.
A pass fell incomplete, leaving four seconds on the clock.
On the final play of the half, Combs connected with Judd for the touchdown.
Cobb added the extra point, and the Zizzers went to halftime leading 14-7.
HALFTIME: WEST PLAINS 14 • BOLIVAR 7
3rd Quarter
Bolivar opened the second half at its own 33, where Warren made the tackle.
Stauffer stopped the next run after one yard.
Bolivar went to a screen pass, with Roberts and Warren combining for the tackle after a two-yard gain.
A long pass then moved Bolivar deep into West Plains territory for a first down at the Zizzer 36, with Maupin making the tackle.
Evans stopped a short run after three yards, then Evans and Roberts combined on another short screen for three more.
Facing third-and-4, Allen held the run to one yard.
That brought up fourth-and-3 at the West Plains 21.
An encroachment penalty against the Zizzers gave Bolivar a first down at the 16.
The Bolivar quarterback kept the ball to the 11, where Davis made the tackle.
Davis and Allen combined to stop a short run at the 10.
Rucker Freeman and Davis then made the tackle as Bolivar picked up a first down at the 6.
Bolivar scored on a touchdown pass.
The initial extra-point attempt was no good, but a Zizzer penalty moved the ball closer and gave Bolivar another try.
The second kick was good, tying the game at 14 with 6:32 remaining.
Smith returned the kickoff to the West Plains 23.
Marshall immediately broke loose to the 37 for a first down.
Roberts ran to the right and was stopped at the line of scrimmage.
On the next play, Rucker Freeman bought time for Roberts, who threw deep to Combs for a big completion and another first down.
Marshall gained six, then three more, setting up third-and-1 at the Bolivar 16.
Marshall was stopped in the backfield, bringing up fourth-and-2.
Combs kept it and picked up the first down at the 11.
Combs threw incomplete on the next play.
Marshall was then stopped at the line.
Combs tried to hit Marshall in the end zone, but the pass fell incomplete.
On fourth down, Combs went to Judd in the end zone, but that pass was also incomplete.
Bolivar took over at its own 10.
Groves tackled the quarterback after a six-yard keeper.
Bolivar went to a screen pass to the right, with Maupin making the tackle at the 26 after a first down.
Maupin delivered a big hit on another completed pass, but a Bolivar holding penalty moved the ball back to the 16.
The quarterback kept it again, with Maupin and Pabian combining for the stop at the 24.
Rucker Freeman tackled the quarterback on another keeper as the third quarter came to an end.
END 3RD: WEST PLAINS 14 • BOLIVAR 14
4th Quarter
Bolivar began the fourth quarter at its own 24 facing third-and-12.
A long pass fell incomplete under pressure, forcing a punt.
Maupin dove on the loose ball following the punt, and the Zizzers recovered at midfield.
Combs immediately went deep to Patillo for a completion at the Bolivar 24.
He went right back to Patillo for another completion at the 15.
Marshall carried to the 12.
Combs then kept the ball and ran to the 5.
Marshall was stopped on the next carry, but he got another opportunity and powered into the end zone for the touchdown.
Cobb kicked the extra point, putting West Plains ahead 21-14 with 10:00 remaining.
Bolivar appeared to answer immediately by returning the kickoff for a touchdown, but an illegal block wiped out the score.
Bolivar instead started at its own 20.
The Liberators broke a long run all the way to the West Plains 5.
The Bolivar quarterback then kept the ball around the left side and scored.
The extra point was no good.
West Plains still led, 21-20, with 9:06 remaining.
The Zizzers started their next possession at the 35 and began what would become one of the most important drives of the night.
Marshall was stopped in the backfield on the first play.
He carried again and reached the 34.
Marshall then broke through to the 44 for a first down.
West Plains called timeout with 7:36 remaining.
Combs connected with Smith for seven yards.
Bolivar was then called for offside, giving the Zizzers a first down at the Bolivar 42.
Marshall ran to the 38.
He carried again to the 33.
Marshall then reached the 26 for another first down.
Bolivar jumped offside again, moving the ball to the 21.
Marshall carried to the 19.
He picked up another yard on the next play, setting up third-and-2.
Combs kept the ball, and the officials brought out the chains to measure.
West Plains had the first down.
Marshall was stopped in the backfield, and Bolivar called timeout.
Combs then connected with Judd, who broke free and ran all the way to the Bolivar 1-yard line.
Bolivar used another timeout with 3:07 remaining.
Marshall took the next carry into the end zone for the touchdown.
West Plains called timeout before the conversion attempt.
The Zizzers tried a pass from Combs to Judd, with Judd looking to get the ball to Maupin, but the play fell incomplete.
West Plains led 27-20 with 3:03 remaining.
Then the Zizzers came up with another huge special-teams play.
West Plains attempted an onside kick, and Huxley Freeman recovered it at the Bolivar 34.
Marshall carried to the 30.
Bolivar used its final timeout with 2:51 remaining.
Marshall carried again as the clock continued to run.
Combs kept the ball and was stopped in the backfield, but more valuable time came off the clock.
West Plains eventually faced fourth-and-7.
The Zizzers used their final timeout with 1:20 remaining.
Combs went deep to Patillo.
The pass fell incomplete—but Bolivar was called for pass interference.
That gave West Plains the first down it needed.
The Zizzers lined up in victory formation, took a knee and ran out the clock.
Final
WEST PLAINS 27 • BOLIVAR 20
The Zizzers repeatedly answered when Bolivar threatened to take control. West Plains overcame an early 7-0 deficit, scored on the final play before halftime, responded after Bolivar tied the game in the third quarter and put together two scoring drives in the fourth.
The night also included several critical special-teams plays, including Maupin’s long first-quarter punt return, the Zizzers’ kickoff recovery before halftime and Huxley Freeman’s onside-kick recovery with just over three minutes remaining.
When the Zizzers needed to finish the game, they did.
Zizzers win, 27-20.
#GoZizzers #TheZizzerZone
