By Tristan James (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Friday night was a long time coming for the McDonald County football program and its fans.
The Mustangs pulled off a second straight district upset to beat top-seeded Bolivar 40-21 and win the program’s first district title in program history.
“This is a huge accomplishment for our program and for our community,” said head coach Kellen Hoover.
“It means everything. A lot of people didn’t think we would win,” said quarterback Destyn Dowd.
“It means everything. It’s all you dream about as a kid. I’ve always wanted to hang a banner up in the school,” said running back Sam Barton.
The first quarter was a defensive struggle with neither team able to get on the scoreboard sending the game to the second quarter at 0-0.
McDonald County broke the scoreless tie with a 36-yard touchdown run from Dowd to make it 7-0 with six minutes remaining until the half.
The Mustang defense quickly got the ball back via a fumble recovery. Dowd found Josh Pacheco in the endzone for a 21-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead for McDonald County.
Bolivar had an answer with a nine-yard touchdown pass just before halftime to cut McDonald County’s lead to 14-7 at the break.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Barton got the second-half scoring going with a 42-yard touchdown run to extend McDonald County’s lead to two scores at 20-7.
Bolivar answered with another touchdown pass to cut the lead back to six at 20-14.
McDonald County responded with a 37-yard pass from Dowd to Pacheco to get the ball to the Bolivar one-yard line. Dowd punched it in to extend McDonald County’s lead back to 27-14.
The back-and-forth game continued on the next drive with a 46-yard touchdown pass from Bolivar to make the score 27-21 at the end of the third quarter.
It was all McDonald County in the final frame with Dowd rushing for his third and fourth touchdowns of the game to secure the team’s first district title. Dowd finished with 29 carries for 144 yards and four touchdowns. Barton added 22 carries for 160 yards and a touchdown. Pacheco had three catches for 64 yards and a touchdown.
“We are going to enjoy it, but we are in the same boat a week from now. If we don’t win the game, our season is over. That is a really good way to bring about urgency,” Hoover said.
McDonald County will take on Jefferson City next week at home.
