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By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Ozark, Mo. — Heading into its Class 4 sectional round matchup, Ozark hoped to put Rock Bridge on its heels early.
And for good reason.
The Bruins entered Tuesday’s clash riding a nine-game win streak, with seven-straight shutouts.
Ozark pulled off the first part of the plan with a goal in the game’s 11th minute; however, the early deficit ended up having a different effect on the Rock Bridge attack.
Something akin to poking bears — Bruins in this case — with sticks.
Rock Bridge scored a pair of goals in the next two minutes, then held Ozark scoreless over the next 54 to advance to the quarterfinals.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Bruins head coach Scott Wittenborn was pleased with his team’s response to a somewhat unfamiliar situation.
“We haven’t done a good job at coming from behind all season,” Wittenborn said. “To go down early and then come back and quickly get two goals was huge. It shifted the momentum for the game, I thought.”
Ozark’s first goal was the result of Wade Korns placing a long crosser directly in front of the Rock Bridge goal box, where TK Stine was waiting to punch it home.
Tigers head coach Tom Davidson sensed a a big opportunity with the early score.
“After going up the goal and everything, I thought, ‘You know, we’ve got an opportunity here,’” Davidson said. “But, you know, Rock Bridge came right back and scored two right on top of us. It was a good battle.”
Rock Bridge wasted little time answering the Ozark goal.
Jeremiah Johnson broke free on a run down the left side and hammered home the Bruins’ equalizer from just outside the box.
Before anyone could process what had just happened, Rock Bridge capitalized on another opportunity for a go-ahead score.
Johnson executed a nifty header assist right in front of the Ozark goal to Jayton Johnson, who slipped the ball past Tiger goalkeeper Sean Smith.
Wittenborn was quick to praise his goal-scoring tandem.
“They have been weapons all season,” Wittenborn said, “They’re just two, terrifically talented players that we’re lucky to have. They work hard and just find a way.”
In the second half, Ozark’s aggressive nature opened up scoring opportunities, but the Tigers were unable to capitalize on the equalizer.
After the game, Davidson reflected on one of the most enjoyable coaching seasons he remembers having.
“It was a great year,” Davidson said. “All year long, they did everything I asked them to do. I can’t fault them for their effort tonight, either. We made two huge mistakes in that first half and, unfortunately, it cost us. I feel bad for them, because I didn’t really feel like Rock Bridge was better than us, but that’s what I told them. They scored two … we scored one.”
Ozark ends its season with a record of 23-4.
Rock Bridge (17-5-1) moves on to the quarterfinals where the Bruins will face Lee’s Summit Sat., Nov. 10.
Class 4 Sectional Final: Rock Bridge – 2, Ozark – 1
First Half Scoring
10:15 Ozark TK Stine goal (Wade Korns assist) 1-0
12:54 Rock Bridge Jeremiah Johnson (Preston Fancher assist) 1-1
13:53 Rock Bridge Jayron Johnson (Jeremiah Johnson assist) 1-2
