OZARK, Mo. — Despite a pair of quick scores by both the Neosho Wildcats and the Ozark Tigers in the first quarter, the game was never truly in doubt.
Ozark simply dominated the Wildcats, scoring at will and ending with a commanding 42-14 win.
The Wildcats (0-7) started the game on their own 16, lost a yard on their first play of the game, before ultimately going four-and-out.
A high, short punt left the Tigers (2-5) in great field position on the Wildcat 26-yard line, which they did not hesitate to capitalize on.
With 8:41 left in the first quarter quarterback Jace Easley rumbled in from 8 yards, and the point after kick made the score 7-0
On their next possession, the Wildcats struck quickly, on a 26-yard run by Jared Siler that was set up by a 35-yard pass to Isaiah Green, and after the kick with 5:04 left in the quarter the score was tied 7-all.
It was the last time Neosho would score until the closing seconds of the third quarter.
With 2:03 left in the quarter Easley punched it in again on the keeper, and it was 14-7 Ozark.
The Wildcats attempted to answer back, firing off a 50-yard pass and pushing the ball down into the red zone.
Facing fourth-down-and-goal on their own 5, the Wildcats’ attempt to score was stopped, with Ozark taking over on downs while shifting the momentum in the process.
In the second quarter, the Tigers punched the ball in again and at 6:42 to go in the half it was 21-7.
Neosho again tried to answer, but with 5:05 to go in the half, the Wildcats decided to go for it on fourth and 2 in their own territory, and it looked like the gamble had paid off, but the completion was negated on an ineligible man downfield penalty.
The Tigers effectively put the game out of reach on the next series, punching in again from a yard out and the score was 28-7 going into the half.
Opening the second half, the Tigers scored again on a 2-yard run by Jake Meads and a pick-six a few plays later by Garrett Ballard made it 42-7.
With under two minutes to go under a running clock, the Tigers attempted a 31-yard field goal, but missed wide right and the score remained 42-7.
With 20 seconds left in the third, Neosho’s Evan Haskins broke free for a 53-yard touchdown run to make the score 42-14.
In the fourth, Neosho was again driving, but was picked off with three minutes remaining, which essentially ended the game.
UP NEXT
Neosho hosts Willard (o-7) on Friday.
