WAYNESVILLE — Ozark became Sam’s Club on Friday.
Just as a picture of Uncle Sam unifies all Americans, the support for Sam Clark as he was preparing to kick was unanimous along Ozark’s sideline.
Clark reaffirmed his teammates’ belief in him by kicking a game-winning 29-yard field goal with :28 remaining to lift Ozark over Waynesville 13-12 in a Class 6 District 5 opening-round thriller.
“I talked to his teammates and asked them, 'What do you guys think, is he going to make it?’” Ozark offensive coordinator Justin Peery said while relating his dialogue prior to Clark’s clutch kick. “Every single kid on our sideline said they had no doubt he was going to make it.”
“That means a lot to me, I love my teammates,” Clark said of his teammates’ faith in him. “Now that I hear that, I'm going to tell them thank you for believing in me when I get to the locker room.”
It was a celebratory locker room for Ozark. This is the program’s first District win since 2020 and just their second playoff victory over the past six years. The win halted an eight-game losing streak dating back to Week One.
Ozark (2-8) recorded a rarity, particularly at the high school level, by winning even while the opposition had more touchdowns.
Ozark’s one and only touchdown was good enough, thanks in part to Clark’s game-winning field goal and a 25-yard field goal he made in the second quarter.
He was able to treat his game-winning field goal just like any other kick.
“I was a little nervous,” Clark said. “But I realized I kick field goals every day in practice. So, I thought to myself, ‘Kick it like I normally do,’ and it will go through the goal posts.’”
Clark kicks field goals in practice almost every day that are hyped by Ozark coaches as game-winners.
“We rep the heck out of those situations in practice,” coach Jeremy Cordell said. “We had no doubt Sam was going to make it and he delivered.”
Clark barely watched his boot sail though the middle of the uprights. Almost immediately after his follow-through on his kick, he ran to the Ozark sideline to rejoice with teammates and coaches.
“I knew I made it,” he said.
Ozark needed a comeback, after a Waynesville touchdown with four-plus minutes remaining gave the hosts a 12-10 lead.
Ozark quarterback Peyton Russell completed his first five passes at the start of Ozark’s winning drive. A 25-yard pass for a first down to wide receiver Jett Easley put Ozark on the verge of the red zone at the Waynesville 23-yard line.
“A sophomore quarterback doing what he did, it was amazing,” Clark said of Russell. “I'm so proud of him.”
"Peyton has grown and grown. He finds a way to keep responding,” Cordell said. “He looks you in the eyes and says, 'What do you need next, coach?' He's a servant leader, that's what you want in your quarterback.”
Ozark moved into the red zone on a pass interference penalty against Waynesville and a subsequent unsportsmanlike penalty against Waynesville.
An earlier unsportsmanlike penalty against Waynesville loomed large. After the hosts went up 12-10, they were flagged 15 yards due to a player taking his helmet off while on the field.
That pushed Waynesville back to the 18-yard line for its extra-point attempt. The boot was blocked by Ozark’s Ruben Arvizu.
“I was supposed to take out the guard and Johnny (Williams) slips in,” Arvizu said. “But the guard stepped down hard and I found an opening and jumped in. The gap opened and I got skinny. I kind of had my eyes closed and (the ball) hit me.”
Arvizu and teammate Tagen Scott collided as Arvizu blocked the kick.
“I felt the ball and then felt someone hit my rib. I got the wind knocked out of me,” said Arvizu, who collected a pair of TFLs.
Scott reached the end zone for Ozark’s only touchdown on the night on a 10-yard scoring strike from Russell near the start of the fourth quarter.
Ozark’s offense for most of the game revolved around linebacker Parker Elliott at running back. His first carry on the night was also his first carry on the season.
Elliott and the running game helped Ozark control the ball in the first half. Russell attempted only three passes in the first half.
“It's a do or die situation, so we put together a strong, heavy package and I was going to be the guy who was going to get the rock,” Elliott said. “That’s how it went down. I was excited and ready to get downhill. Let's go get five yards a pop.”
Elliott was involved in hard-hitting tackles on both sides of the field.
“It's tough going both ways,” Elliott said. “But it was fun. You’ve really got to have a motor. You’ve got to put your head down and go.”
Ozark extends it season by at least a week leading up to a semifinal matchup against Nixa.
“I can't wait to see my guys Monday,” Arvizu said. “We’ll celebrate tonight and tomorrow morning it's all about Nixa.
“There's nothing like playoff football,” Cordell said. “When you get to play another week, there's a magic to that, it's special. I’m super excited for our guys and the Ozark community.”
