Tigers earn District semifinal home date by shutting out Kickapoo

Published 12:14 pm Saturday, October 24, 2026

SPRINGFIELD — Seemingly constantly calm and composed, Stanley Brice maintained his even-keel temperament Friday, even upon his last name first and his first name last by the public-address at Kickapoo.

Brice did his usual thing from his outside linebacker post, delivering hard hits to the opposing ball-carrier and afterward extending a helping hand.

That was among the many pleasant storylines that emerged from Ozark’s long-sought and finally fulfilling 42-0 blanking of Kickapoo.

The Tigers recorded their first shutout on the season.

On good nights and bad, Brice has gained a reputation as one of SWMO’s most respectful defenders, not only helping opponents to their feet after a play, but offering an encouraging word or two, as well.

“I feel like it’s good sportsmanship,” Brice said. “You’re supposed to deliver a hard hit and then help them up. You never want to see anyone hurt, but if someone is hurt, I feel like I’m one of the first guys there to check on them or help them up.”

“He lays the boom on them and gives them a hand to lift them up,” defensive end Hendrix Haymes added.

Brice’s demeanor is refreshing. After a tackle, he doesn’t run about wildly, begging for everyone to look at him like we see so often in the NFL, FCS and even MSHSAA.

“I’m ready to make another play,” Brice said.

Ozark (4-5) did everything it needed to do to lock down the Class 6 District 5 No. 2 seed, along with the first-round bye and semifinal home date that comes with it.

“We have all the power to take control of these games,” Brice said. “When our defense has so much confidence like tonight, we fly around and make all the plays.’

The Tigers will host Joplin (3-6) in two

weeks. The Eagles made a bid to take the No. 2 seed by holding a late lead against Webb City, before falling 42-35.

Ozark jumped on top of Kickapoo 21-0 by half-time and had the turbo clock in effect midway through the third quarter.

Haymes caught two touchdown passes, running backs Kaiden Wirtmiller and Braxton Banks each ran for a touchdown, as did Jett Easley and linebacker Lucas Kronebusch received his first career carries and capped the scoring with a touchdown run of his own.

Easley returned from an ankle injury that sidelined him for most of Ozark’s loss a week earlier to Glendale.

“I was in for about five or six plays, but had no strength in my ankle,” Easley said. “(Coaches) used me as a decoy, but (Glendale) figured that out quickly. I need the bye week to get healthy.”

On Ozark’s first play out of the ‘Wildcat,’ Easley ran virtually untouched 43 yards to the end zone.

With Easley most often receiving the snap in the ‘Wildcat,’ he’s been consistently good for big chunks of yards all season.

“When we get the ‘Wildcat’ call in the huddle, we joke around with Jett and say, ‘Let;’s get it done, let’s get this ball moving and score,” left tackle Isaiah Collins said. “I think the ‘Wildcat’ works so well because it’s not a delayed handoff. We hit the gap immediately. That gives us an extra second to the gap.”

“We get the extra insert blocker and our O-line is a bunch of dawgs,” Easley said. “I read the gaps off my guys’ good blocks.”

The ‘Wildcat’ has also been good to Ozark on passes into the end zone from three yards out. Tight end Hendrix Haymes caught a three-yard touchdown pass from Easley on fourth-and-goal in the second quarter.

“It’s all about the schemes,” said Haymes, who has made similar catches on two-point conversion plays this season. “(The defense) reads me run-blocking and I pop out and end up in the back of the end zone.”

“I think it’s so successful because when we’re in ‘Wildcat,'(the dense) assumes run. If I get the ball and act like I’m going to run, I toss it up and there’s no one there.”

In an effort to look over the scrum at the line of scrimmage, Easley had to jump as he threw.

“You can’t see everything, so I’ve got to kind of hope and pray and put it where it needs to go,” Easley said. “That was exciting. I’d never thrown a touchdown before.”

Haymes added a 31-yard touchdown catch in the second half. Quarterback Caden O’Donnell hit him in stride.

Haymes was limping in the end zone, but only due to cramps.

“My body was feeling it a little bit,” Haymes said. “I’d been cramping since the beginning of the third quarter, but got it done.”

Ozark 42, Kickapoo 0

Ozark 7 14 14 7 – 42

Kickapoo 0 0 0 0

Scoring

O – Wirtmiller 6 run (Scott kick)

O – Easley 43 run (Scott kick)

O – Haymes 3 pass from Easley (Scott kick)

O – Bell 32 run (Scott kick)

O – Haymes 31 pass from O’Donnell (Scott kick)

O – Kronebusch 1 run (Scott kick)