Branson, Forsyth Advance, Harrison Wraps Season with Win

Branson and Forsyth were attempting to make history tonight while Harrison wanted to avoid it. All three teams succeeded.

For Branson and Forsyth, they were looking to advance for Football District Championships for the first time in the current playoff format for the Pirates and the first time ever for the Panthers. 

The Pirates overcame some big plays by a game Glendale team to outscore the Falcons 50-29 at Pirate Stadium. The Pirates built a 21-0 lead before the Falcons got on the board with the teams then trading scores. With the Pirates up 35-15 at intermission, the Falcons took the ball to start the third quarter and scored, then when the Pirates looked like they were about to score, fumbled the ball deep in Glendale territory with the Falcons hitting an 80 yard pass  on the very next play to cut the Pirate led to six midway in the third quarter. The Pirates regained control of the game, taking most of the rest of the quarter to get the lead back to 14, then forcing a Glendale turnover which led to a score to put the game away. 

Quarterback Luke McCormick accounted for five of the seven Branson touchdowns, rushing for four and throwing a TD pass to Teagan Asbury for the other while Smith Quigg had the other two scores for Branson, who remains undefeated and will host Republic in the District Championship Game next Friday. 

For Forsyth, they also overcame a tough outing by an underdog to pull out a 31-28 win over East Newton at Collier Field. This game stayed close throughout with the Panthers making an early fourth quarter touchdown by Braxton Cross stand-up for the win. After forcing an East Newton punt on the next possession. the Panthers were able to run out the clock and preserve the win and set a date at Seneca for the District Championship. 

While Missouri schools are in postseason, Arkansas schools were in the final week of the regular season. Harrison was trying to avoid history as a tough 2024 season was winding down. No Goblin team had won fewer than two games in a season, but the Goblins would have to knock-off Pea Ridge to avoid ending the season with only a single victory. The Goblins were able to accomplish that pulling away for a 34-17 win. Pea Ridge led 17-14 lead with about nine minutes left when the Goblins got a touchdown to grab the lead then got an interception return for a touchdown to secure the win. 

Missouri Playoff Scores
Class 6
Nixa 35 Ozark 8 
Joplin 21 Kickapoo 7 

Class 5 
Branson 50 Glendale 29
Republic 54 Hillcrest 27 
Carthage 35 Neosho 14 
Webb City 21 Grain Valley 9 

Class 4
West Plains 34 Logan-Rogersville 27 
Bolivar 24 Carl Junction 6 

Class 3
Forsyth 31 East Newton 28
Seneca 41 Aurora 6
Strafford 42 St. James 20 
Mt. Vernon 35 Mountain Grove 21 

Class 2
Fair Grove 48 Thayer 26
Liberty 42 Houston 0 
Warsaw 39 Sarcoxie 0 
Lamar 50 Stockton 8 

Class 1
Marionville 22 Miller 0  
Pierce City 20  Windsor 8 
Ash Grove 36 Midway 14 

Arkansas Regular Season
Harrison 34 Pea Ridge 17
Green Forest 37 Berryville 13