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Historical night for Ozark offense versus Webb City, but Tigers can’t pull off upset

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WEBB CITY — Ozark’s Jace Easley remains loyal to his soccer brethren and in fact will resume his soccer career by playing club ball next spring. But after a marathon of a night like Friday against Webb City, he didn’t hesitate when asked which sport, football or soccer, is more exhausting.

“That’s pretty easy, football,” Easley said. “You’re legs are sore the next day after playing soccer, but it’s just your legs, not your whole body, like it is for football.”

Easley was once again all over the field while racking up 293 yards of total offense and intercepting a pass in Ozark’s 63-48 setback at the hands of the Cardinals.

The Tigers spotted Webb City a 19-0 lead less than seven minutes into the game, before Easley and his offensive cohorts began to keep pace with the Cardinals. Ozark never had the ball with a chance to tie things up, but pulled as close as 25-21 of the lead.

“The first quarter started off terrible,” coach Chad Depee said. “When you come over here and it  starts that way, there is a good tendency for people to completely fold. Our kids didn’t. Our first possession wasn’t good by any means. But then they settled in and executed well. Our guys stepped up in third-down situations and picked up big first downs to continue drives.”

“We weren’t hanging our heads,” quarterback Brady Dodd said. “We were confident we could stay in the game and play the kind of Ozark football we know how to play. We knew we could come back from 19-0.”

“Everyone thought we were going to get killed at that point,” Easley said. “But we fought hard and brought it to where it was a pretty good game.”

It was a 49-42 ball game three minutes into the fourth quarter, after Dodd’s third touchdown run on the night.

Dodd had an even bigger night throwing the ball, completing 16-of-19 passes for 318 yards and three more touchdowns. He had a 20-yard touchdown pass to Jace Whatley, a 39-yard touchdown pass to Will Scheer and a 20-yard touchdown pass to Easley.

“It was exciting,” Dodd said. “I love throwing the ball and I also love running the ball. It’s fun to mix it up.”

Dodd had time to look over the field while preparing to pass, as Ozark’s offensive line provided him exceptional protection.

“I’m 100 percent confident throwing in the pocket and in their ability as an offensive line,” Dodd said. “They are the right guys for their spots.”

“Everyone was getting to their assignments and it opened up Brady to complete passes,” said running back Jake Beets, who had three catches for 74 yards and rushed nine times for 30 yards and a touchdown.

“The guys up front battled all night long,” Depee said. “I can’t tell you enough how important it is for us to be able to run the football and we had nice passes. It all starts up front with us those guys allowing us to be a threat running the ball.”

Ozark (2-6) dominated the time of possession, holding onto the ball for 33:40. The Tigers had 22 first downs to Webb City’s 21.

“You take away the first quarter and the ball game is ours,” Beets said. “It’s kind of like a win/loss. We were able to get going, but didn’t get what we wanted.”

Easley had five catches for 102 yards and ran six times for 78 yards.

“It was a very encouraging night on offense,” Easley said. “We ran with almost perfect execution and Brady is doing a great job. Usually, 48 points will win you a football game. Our offense stepped up.”

Webb City (5-3) has been burned for 40-plus points four times this season. The 48 points are the most the Cardinals have allowed in a game going as far back as the 2005 season. Results of their games prior to 2005 are not accessible on either their school web site, the Missouri State High Schools Activities Association’s web site or on MaxPreps.com.

“I wouldn’t put anything past them, they’re still pretty good,” Beets said of the Cardinals’ defense. “But they’re nothing like they were last year.”

Easley had a kickoff return of 79 yards, before being stopped by the Cardinals’ Daunte Washington in one of their best one-on-one matchups of the night.

“That kid is fast,” Easley said. “I thought I was gone. I didn’t see him and then I felt someone grab me by my ankles. He made a great play.”

With Easley also lining up at cornerback, he was able to speak on behalf of the Ozark defense’s struggles. The only instances in which Webb City was stopped all night were on an interception apiece from Easley and safety Garrett Ballard.

“They hit us in the mouth and we were standing there waiting for it to happen,” Easley said. “Like our coaches said at halftime, they were the hammer and we were the nail. They were running all over us. People weren’t getting to their assignments.”

“Webb’s offense was very physical,” Depee said. “They’re notorious for that. We had a hard time matching that physicality. They got downhill on us and when they got the ball to the perimeter, they’ve got the skill guys there to make you hurt. Obviously, we have to look at what Webb did to us and find the answers.”

“There is a lot of good, a lot of bad and a lot of could-haves and should-haves from tonight,” Dodd said. “We’ve got to do our homework and fix the little things so we can do them right.”

Webb City 63, Ozark 48

Ozark              0 21 14 13 - 48

Webb City     19 14 16 14 - 63

Scoring

WC - Wilson 65 run (kick no good)

WC - Wilson 3 run (kick no good)

WC - Wilson 57 run (Crouch kick)

O - Beets 3 run (Easley kick)

WC - Jackson 46 run (kick no good)

O - Whatley 20 pass from Dodd (Easley kick)

O - Dodd 3 run (Easley kick)

WC - Wilson 15 run (Jackson run)

O - Scheer 39 pass from Dodd (Easley kick)

WC - Spieker 20 pass from Johnson (Roefts pass from Johnson)

O - Dodd 1 run (Easley kick)

WC - Jackson 1 run (Good pass from Johnson)

O - Dodd 1 run (Easley kick)

WC - Jackson 5 run (Washington kick)

WC - Washington 39 pass from Johnson (Washington kick)

O - Easley 20 pass from Dodd (pass no good)


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