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By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Fair Grove, Mo. — Most pundits agreed Friday’s Mid-Lakes showdown between undefeated Fair Grove and undefeated Strafford could hinge on a few momentum-swinging plays.
Few, if any, expected them all to happen within a single minute.
Fair Grove’s defense helped key a gritty, second-half comeback and propelled the Eagles to a 17-14 victory.
Trailing 14-8 at the half, Fair Grove’s rally sparked midway through the third quarter.
With Strafford facing a fourth-and-12 scenario trapped inside its own red zone, the Eagles seized the opportunity.
Junior linebacker Darin Oplotnik crashed through the line and blocked the Indians’ punt attempt, giving Fair Grove the ball on Strafford’s 14 and a burst of game-changing momentum.
Funny thing about momentum, though … it can be quite fickle.
In less than a minute, in fact, Fair Grove’s golden opportunity went up in smoke.
On the Eagles’ very first snap, quarterback Rhett Hill was shaken up and helped off the field with leg cramps.
Two plays later, Fair Grove fumbled the ball away at the Strafford goal line.
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While momentum could have quickly swung back to the Indians, someone must have forgot to tell Oplotnik.
The defensive standout found his way into the backfield yet again to force what turned out to be a game-changing safety.
“I told the guys we needed to give 100 percent on that play, because it was the game-winner,” Oplotnik said. “It was a game-winner, and I knew it. We all just rushed as a team, tackled as a team and that’s what won the game.”
Oplotnik was quick to credit Fair Grove’s defensive line for his success on the evening.
“Our defensive line — Cody Gunder and Kord Eagleburger — they demand three-mans,” Oplotnik said. “I can just get through because of them. They’re just awesome, and we work as a team.”
Oplotnik wasn’t the only Eagle to sense what was happening.
Recovering on the sideline, Hill looked up in near disbelief to see his team emerge from the drive-killing turnover not only unscathed, but in prime position for a comeback.
“We were down for a second, and then I turned around to go grab a drink of water,” Hill said. “I saw they had a safety, and the momentum just switched. I thought we had it in hand from there.”
Fair Grove head coach Bill Voorhis had plenty of praise for his defense and realized the ramifications that lightning-fast minute could have on the game’s outcome.
“It had to be huge for our kids, especially,” Voorhis said. “We had to be down, because I know we felt like we were about to punch it in. To have that turnabout, it just says something about the resiliency of our kids and the mentality that our defense has. They’re always in attack mode.”
While Fair Grove was unable to convert the safety into additional points on its ensuing possession, Strafford wasn’t having much luck, either.
Despite another deep drive into scoring territory, the Indians fumbled twice in the series, turning the ball over on the second miscue inside the Fair Grove ten-yard line.
His cramping subsided, Hill trotted back to the Eagles’ huddle.
Voorhis recalled a basic philosophy while evaluating his quarterback on the sideline.
“Those kids know that I don’t spend a lot of time feeling sorry for cramps,” Voorhis said. “When I got out there, he knew and kind of put his head down, but Rhett’s a tough kid, and I knew he’d be fine and be back out there.”
Turns out Hill was more than fine, as Friday was his birthday.
The senior engineered a 15-play, 82-yard drive that culminated with Cole Gilpin’s four-yard touchdown reception at the goal line to put the Eagles up for good.
“We knew this was going to be a hard-fought game,” Voorhis said. “Rhett does what seniors do — he makes good decisions with the football. You know, the last few plays, those were on Rhett. He said, ‘Hey, I think we can pick up a first down with this,’ and I trust him. He calls the right stuff and gets our offense in the right position.”
Hill finished the game with 138 yards passing and another 31 yards on the ground. Senior Elijah Young racked up another 126 yards from scrimmage in the win.
Strafford had a chance with the ball and two minutes on the clock; however, junior Bryce Thornton converted his seventh interception of the season to all but close out the game.
Strafford quarterback Wyatt Maples finished with 224 yards passing with two touchdowns and 50 yard rushing to lead the Indians, while senior Dillon Hester added 132 receiving yards.
The win marked victory number 50 for Voorhis, who was appreciative of the milestone’s rivalry significance.
“Even so many years ago,” Voorhis said. “I couldn’t have planned it any better.
Next week, Fair Grove (6-0) travels to Butler, while Strafford (5-1) visits Skyline
Fair Grove – 17, Strafford – 14
Strafford 0 14 0 0 — 14
Fair Grove 0 8 2 7 — 17
Second quarter scoring
Strafford – Mason Foley 50-yard TD pass from Wyatt Maples (conversion failed)
Fair Grove – Elijah Young 11-yard TD rush (Darin Oplotnik 2pt conversion rush)
Strafford – Vance Mullins 10-yard TD pass from Maples (Trayson Lawler 2pt conversion rec)
Third quarter scoring
Fair Grove – Safety
Fourth quarter scoring
Fair Grove – Cole Gilpin 4-yard TD pass from Rhett Hill (Michael Newkirk kick)
