Jace Easley is interested which Ozark outfit will show up for the Tigers’ trip to Nixa on Friday for the renewal of the Backyard Brawl.
Ozark was near flawless in a 52-0 rout of Willard in Week Four, but fell dramatically while losing four fumbles in a 48-28 defeat to Republic in Week Five.
“If we do what we did against Republic, it could be ugly,” said Easley, a senior receiver. “If we play like we did at Willard, I think we have more than enough potential to win. It could be a good game, if we do what we did against Willard and play our best. We 100 percent could win this game.”
Likewise, quarterback Brady Dodd wants the Tigers to realize they showed their capabilities in handing Willard its worst loss of the season to this point.
“Nixa is a good football team and we believe we are, too,” Dodd said. “Willard is a good example of what we can do. But then we had our mishaps against Republic. So, we’ve got to turn it around again. We need to have a battle mentality and go into Nixa confident in our abilities. We’re not going to be intimidated and we’re not going to back down.”
Ozark (1-4) has shown big-play potential while putting up 80 points the last two weeks.
Wideout Jace Whatley has emerged into a star. Despite playing in a triple-option offense, the super sophomore already has 350 yards receiving. He is averaging more than 30 yards a reception.
“Everyone thinks we’re going to run, run, run. That’s good for me,” Whatley said. “We get that pass and it’s a touchdown for 50-plus yards.”
“We obviously mostly like to run the ball,” added Easley, who had a 65-yard touchdown catch against Republic. “We run it, run it, run it, so hopefully defenses will fall asleep and all of a sudden we hit them with the big pass. I’d say half of our pass plays go for long yardage because we catch defenses sleeping.”
“We’ll run the ball down your throat and get outside and pitch the ball,” Dodd said. “When we get the defense to flow that way, we’ll throw it over their heads.”
Easley has given Ozark’s passing game another deep option since he was moved to wideout and replaced by Dodd at quarterback midway through the Tigers’ Week Three loss to Joplin.
“Whatley has size. He’s a long kid and a big target to throw to,” Dodd said. “That makes it easy for me to throw him the ball. Easley is fast and is really good at getting open. I’m very confident throwing to those guys.”
The move of Dodd taking over for Easley was mode without any ruffles internally.
“It’s been very fluent,” Whatley said. “Everyone was switched around and everyone likes their new positions. Jace is doing great. Brady is also a great leader. He’s got all the skill-sets we want.”
“I was willing to do it. I’m willing to do whatever the coaches and all of us players think is best for the team,” Easley said of his move. “It’s opened me up to play defense (at cornerback) also. I wasn’t going to get to play defense, unless we made that change.
“It’s been crazy these last couple of weeks in practices,” he added. “I’ve played quarterback, receiver, a little bit of running back and slot-back. I’m all over the place. I have to do my homework and have things figured out because I can be put at any position anytime. It’s a lot of fun. I’m enjoying it.”
The Backyard Brawl once again will produce the kind of atmosphere and intensity the players relish. This is the first meeting between the teams at Nixa since 2018, after the last three matchups were held at Ozark.
“It will be weird going back over there. The environment is very different than here,” linebacker Drew Blomquist said. “That will make it all the more challenging, which is going to be good for us. I do not like Nixa at all. I have a very deep dislike for them. But I love everything about this game. It will be a gritty game and a good game, if we perform and minimize our mistakes.”
The Tigers are anticipating welcoming back running back Jacob Kronebusch, but aren’t sure when he will be ready to suit up. Kronebusch, arguably the team’s top player, suffered a broken ankle during Ozark’s jamboree six weeks ago.
“He continues to heal up. He’s a kid we’d love to have back,” coach Chad Depee said. “We’ve missed him. We look forward at some point that we can get him back healthy and he can go 100 percent.”
