OZARK, Mo. — Joplin rallied in the second half to win their second straight road contest 29-22 over Ozark on Friday.
The Eagles (3-0) trailed nearly the entire first half, going into the intermission looking at a 16-14 deficit. The Joplin defense slowed down the Ozark rushing attack in the second half, allowing the offense time to find a rhythm on the way to outscoring the Tigers 15-6 over the final two quarters en route to the win.
With the victory, Joplin improves to 3-0 on the season. Ozark falls to 0-3 following the loss.
GAME ACTION
After Joplin went three-and-out on the first possession of the game, Ozark started its first drive at the JHS 49 and marched its way to an 11-play scoring drive that culminated in a 1-yard score from Gage Depee on third-down and goal to give the Tigers a 7-0 advantage with 6:14 on the clock in the first quarter.
Joplin answered back with a nine-play drive that led to a score. A 20-yard connection on fourth-down and 2 from Joplin QB Hobbs Gooch to WR Davin Thomas down to the OHS 2-yard line. RB Quin Renfro took the ensuing handoff right across the goal line, tying the game at 7-7 with 2:49 to play in the first quarter.
The Tigers started at their own 9-yard line on the ensuing drive and marched down the field before Joplin stalled out Ozark, forcing Sam Clark into a 23-yard field goal for a 10-7 lead with 7:33 left in the first half.
Ozark found the endzone one more time before the intermission, with a 38-yard run by Jacob Kronebusch setting up a 31-yard touchdown pass from QB Brady Dodd to WR Garrett Ballard near the three-minute mark to give the Tigers a 16-7 lead.
Joplin answered back quickly, with Gooch finding RB Drew VanGilder on a shovel pass for a 16-yard touchdown with less than a minute to play in the first half, cutting the Eagles’ deficit to 16-14 by the intermission.
The Eagles’ defense came out of the locker room with adjustments made, allowing one first before forcing Ozark to punt on its first possession before forcing a three-and-out on the Tigers’ second drive.
Unfortunately, the first turnover of the game happened on the Eagles’ second drive when Gooch was picked off by Clark on second and long to give the Tigers the ball on their own 37. Ozark marched down the field and was forced into a fourth-down and goal from the 2-yard line just into the fourth quarter. Dupee took the handoff left on a dive and found paydirt with 10:33 left to play to push the lead to 22-14.
On the ensuing Joplin drive with the Eagles looking at a fourth-down and 6, Gooch found WR Terrance Gibson in stride all alone up the seam for a 43-yard touchdown. Gooch hooked up with WR Aidan Sampson on the ensuing 2-point conversion to tie the game at 22-all with less than eight minutes left in regulation.
Joplin’s defense came up big again, forcing the Tigers into a punt with the Eagles taking possession at their own 33 with 3:29 left in the game. After a pair of nice runs by Renfro, Gooch found Thomas in the flat on play action, with Thomas breaking loose and taking it to the house for a 50-yard touchdown to make the score 29-22 with 2:29 left in regulation.
As they did nearly the entire second half, the Joplin defense corralled the Tigers over the closing minutes to help seal the win with the Eagle offense in victory formation.
STATS
Gooch completed 12-of-23 passes for 208 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Renfro closed with 16 carries for 51 yards and a touchdown, while VanGilder carried three times for 33 yards and had one reception for 16 yards and a touchdown. Gibson had three receptions for 72 yards and a score, while Thomas had three receptions for 71 yards and a score.
Dodd completed 11-of-14 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown, Depee had 17 carries for 68 yards and totaled two touchdowns for Ozark.
UP NEXT
Joplin returns home to host Webb City (2-1) on Friday at Junge Stadium.
