OZARK, Mo. — Ozark’s offense found little resistance on the way to a 40-7 win over Neosho in the opening round of the Class 5 District 6 playoffs on Friday.
The Tigers (6-4) scored four times in the first half to build a 26-0 lead by the intermission. Keeping the Wildcats’ offense in check, Ozark added two more unanswered scores in the second half to force a running clock on the way to the win.
The loss ends Neosho’s season with an 0-10 record. The Wildcats graduate 11 seniors—RB/LB Brandy Gonzales, RB/DB Cayden Auch, TE/OLB Sam Sullivan, RB/LB Drayke Perry, QB/DB Landon Kivett, TE/LB Jacob Fry, WR/DB Hunter Morales, OL/DL Myles Buck, OL/DL Connor Millikin, TE/OLB Corbin Thomason and OL/DL Kaden Decker.
After a three-and-out by Neosho to start the game, Ozark looked to follow suit before quarterback Cannon Cox ripped off a 46-yard run on fourth-down-and-3 from midfield, setting up a 5-yard third-and-goal touchdown run on an end around from Ethan Pritchard to put the Tigers up 6-0 with 7:35 left in the first quarter.
Neosho’s offense, which was limited to 33 yards of offense in the first half, again went three-and-out, and Ozark went on a nine-play scoring drive that culminated in a 15-yard rushing touchdown by Thomas Rushing late in the first period to push the lead to 12-0.
Ozark went up three scores with less than six minutes left in the first half when Tylr Bolin scored on a 33-yard touchdown run to make the score 19-0.
The Tigers, who rushed 26 times for more than 260 yards in the first half, scored their fourth touchdown in five possessions of the first two quarters when a 35-yard gallop from Bolin set up a 5-yard rushing score from Cox to make the score 26-0 with 2:10 left in the second quarter.
Bolin had 112 yards and a touchdown on the ground in the first half, with Cox close behind at 93 yards and a score.
Ozark opened up the second half as it closed the first, putting points on the board. The Tigers marched down the field and used a 4-yard touchdown run from Bolin, his second of the game, to push the margin to 33-0.
Neosho earned good field position for the first time in the game after Cox fumbled on Ozark’s ensuing possession, with the Wildcats’ Thomason recovering near midfield. Neosho’s drive moved to the 30-yard line before Auch fumbled a run to the outside on third down to give the ball back to the Tigers.
The Wildcats earned another takeaway on the ensuing defensive possession when Marcus Duncan stripped Cox of the football, giving Neosho the ball inside the OHS 35-yard line. An 8-yard run from Jared Siler and back-to-back 6-yard runs by Perry put the Wildcats inside the 10. Neosho got as close as the 7-yard line before the drive stalled for a turnover on downs.
Ozark answered back quickly, with Jacob Kronebusch finding paydirt from 75 yards out to push the lead to 40-0 with 9:43 left in the game.
Neosho got on the scoreboard with 2:27 left in the game when Logan Whetzell ripped off a 43-yard touchdown on play-action to make the score 40-7.
STATS
Bolin led Ozark with 141 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries, while Cox carried the ball 12 times for 121 yards, two touchdowns and two fumbles.
Siler led Neosho with 74 rushing yards on 22 carries. Perry added 42 yards on 11 carries.
UP NEXT
Ozark travels to Webb City for a district semifinal matchup at 7 p.m. on Friday.
SCORING SUMMARY
Neosho 0 0 0 7 — 7
Ozark 12 14 7 7 — 40
FIRST QUARTER
OHS—Ethan Pritchard 5 run (two-point fail)
OHS—Thomas Rushing 15 run (two-point fail)
SECOND QUARTER
OHS—Tylr Bolin 33 run (Jace Easley kick)
OHS—Cox 5 run (Easley kick)
THIRD QUARTER
OHS—Bolin 4 run (Easley kick)
FOURTH QUARTER
OHS—Jacob Kronebusch 75 run (Easley kick)
NHS—Logan Whetzell 43 run (Landon Kivett kick)
