Football Season Ends for Branson, Forsyth, Green Forest

Branson and Forsyth Football take second place in District Competition.

Both the Pirates and the Panthers were trying to notch District Titles, the Pirates first in 14 years and the Panthers first in program history. Both teams found the going tough as the fall in the championship games Friday night. 

For Branson, the faced off against old Central Ozark Conference Foe Republic who was trying for their second straight District Championship. Branson got off to a fast start, scoring on their opening drive with Quarterback Luke McCormick scoring on a 56 yard keeper. The Tigers however marched down the field and answered to tie the score at 7. 

While each team failed to score on their next possession, the end of the first half turned into the start of momentum swinging in favor of Republic. The Pirates dropped the snap on a punt giving the Tigers the ball in Pirate territory and scored just before half to lead 14-7. The Tigers started with the ball in the second half but the Pirates forced a turnover and moved all the way down to the Tiger 3-yard-line before a sack on third down forced the Pirates to settle for a Dane Efird field goal which would turn out to be the final points of the season for Branson. 

Republic took control of the game from there, answering with a touchdown to go up 21-10 and added two more later for a final score of 35-10. Tiger Quarterback Preston McCracken scored four of the five touchdowns to lead the Tigers to their 10th win of the season and a home State Playoff game next week against Helias Catholic. 

For the Pirates, it was their first loss of the year, finishing 10-1 for the season.

Meanwhile the Forsyth Panthers ran into a avalanche in Seneca as they undefeated Indians rolled to a 64-7 win. The Panthers finish their season with a 7-5 record.

In Arkansas, Green Forest has their season come to an end in the first round of the 4A Playoffs 49-14 at Mena. 

Missouri Playoff Scores
Class 6 
Nixa 48 Joplin 21

Class 5
Republic 35 Branson 10
Helias Catholic 30 Lebanon 18
Webb City 42 Carthage 28

Class 4
West Plains 24 Bolivar 21

Class 3
Seneca 64 Forsyth 7
Mount Vernon 28 Strafford 21

Class 2 
Fair Grove 42 Liberty 14
Lamar 15 Warsaw 13

Class 1 
Marionville 26 Pierce City 7