By Amanda Perkins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Last week was one of football upsets in the Ozarks, and the West Plains Zizzers and Glendale Falcons’ games were no exception. The Zizzers snuck past favorited Camdenton on the road last week while the Falcons entered unfamiliar territory with a loss to Hillcrest. The reigning Ozark Conference champions finished the regular season undefeated in 2016.
But the Falcons were looking like their old selves as they opened Friday night’s game with a score in seven plays. Senior star quarterback Alex Huston connected to senior wide receiver Max Nichols for a touchdown, but the two point conversion was called back on a penalty.
West Plains took the ensuing kickoff and matched the drive, sophomore quarterback Connor Rackley connecting with sophomore running back Brayden Lidgard for the touchdown. Kicker Trey Cressman added the extra point to give the Zizzers the lead, one they would never relinquish. Up 21-12 at the half, the host team moved to 3-0 on the season with a final score of 42-18.
“We did a little damage in every way we possibly could tonight,” said West Plains head coach Steve Ary. “I really thought it was a total team effort and we were solid all night. We’ve been putting together a couple of quarters a night and we put together four tonight. I knew we would be a good team if we could put together four quarters, and we did.”
Rackley was 10-17 for 145 yards and a touchdown on the night. Lidgard would score a total of four touchdowns for the Zizzers on 30 carries for 230 yards.
“I think our offensive line really shined tonight and Brayden Lidgard had a big night behind them,” said Ary. “Defensively, (the Falcons) score points – our defense was really good tonight. The kids played awesome on both sides of the ball. I was really proud of them.”
Glendale coach Mike Mauk credited the Zizzer efforts.
“I thought it was a hard-fought game in the first half,” he said. “(The Zizzer) strength and ability to run the football the way they did really took over the game in the third quarter. Their kids played really hard and their backs ran really hard and the linemen did a great job of blocking and they played well on defense. Their defensive guys should be commended. They played really well.”
“We’ve got a lot of new guys out there, their first time playing,” he added. “We are a mediocre team right now, but we’ll keep working with them, we’ll try to find a way to get better as a team.”
The Zizzers travel to Hillcrest next week, and the Falcons host Lebanon.
First quarter
Huston to Nichols for 26 yards; conversion failed
Lidgard from 5 yards, Cressman kick
Second quarter
Lidgard scores from 14 yards out, Cressman kick
Huston to Cobin Lukes, 7 yards
Rackley to Landry Randolph, 20 yards, Cressman kick
Third quarter
Rackley 17 yards rushing touchdown, Cressman kick
Lidgard touchdown from 4 yards, Cressman kick
Fourth quarter
Huston to Max Nichols for 10 yards
Lidgard from 1 yard, Cressman kick
Lidgard from 2 yards, Cressman kick
