Mountain Grove cruises past Liberty for big SCA victory

In past years, the winner of the turnover battle was usually the winner of the game when the Mountain Grove Panthers’ football team took on Liberty (Mountain View).
Last Friday night was no different. Fortunately for the Panthers, they took advantage of five Eagles’ turnovers while they had just one of their own in a 35-6 South Central Association (SCA) Conference victory.
The first turnover came on the Eagles’ very first play as a past was intercepted by Brody Bevan near midfield.
On offense, Bevan added a 39-yard carry. Four plays later though, Mountain Grove turned the ball over on downs.
After the Panthers’ defense forced a quick Liberty three-and-out, Mountain Grove started their next possession on the 50. Quarterback Dalton Shannon had a 19-yard carry before scoring six plays later on a two-yard touchdown run. Eli Golden’s extra-point kick gave his team a 7-0 lead.
The Eagles’ had their second turnover when a fumble was recovered near midfield.
A false start and a tackle for a loss led to the Panthers having to punt.
After Liberty was stopped on fourth down at midfield on the following possession, the Panthers’ offense took nine plays before scoring on Shannon’s two-yard touchdown run. Golden’s kick put Mountain Grove up 14-0 late in the second quarter.
A dropped snap on a punt attempt led to an Eagles’ 23-yard loss on fourth down.
With 2:52 remaining in the first half, Braydon Curtiss had a 10-yard gain and scored three plays later on a four-yard touchdown run. Golden’s extra-point kick helped Mountain Grove take a 21-0 lead.
The Eagles nearly pulled off a miracle before halftime as a 28-yard passing play with no time left on the clock plus a personal foul on the Panthers gave Liberty (Mountain View) one more play on the Panthers’ 8.
A trick play led to an eight yard sack for a loss, ending the first half.
Mountain Grove’s offense had 177 rushing yards in the first two quarters.
The Eagles had 66 yards passing and minus 13 yards rushing for 53 total yards of offense.
The Panthers’ offense opened the third quarter with the ball, but went three-and-out.
Fortunately, Golden’s punt was downed on the Eagles’ 10.
Down three scores, the Eagles’ offense started passing the ball. They had a 27-yard passing play and one for 12 yards before having to punt near midfield.
On the very next play, Shannon scored on a 67-yard touchdown run. A failed extra-point kick kept the score at 27-0.
Two plays later, a snap was fumbled and Mountain Grove recovered on the Eagles’ 18.
Four plays later, Curtiss converted a fourth-and-four with a 12-yard touchdown run. His two-point run pushed the lead to 35-0.
With the turbo clock on, the Eagles’ offense was hoping to stop it on the next drive and they did.
They marched 65 yards with the help of four passing plays. They scored on a one-yard touchdown run A fail two-point pass keep the score at 35-6.
Though the Panthers were unable to respond, Golden had a punt downed on the Eagles’ 1.
One play later, an Eagles’ pass was intercepted at the 24.
Shannon was picked off three plays later for Mountain Grove’s lone turnover of the game.
Liberty (Mountain View) would take their next drive down to the Panthers’ 5 before the drive ended when Ryder Jones recovered a fumble.
The Panthers won the game as the offense had 317 total rushing yards.
Shannon had a big game with 16 carries for 143 yards and three touchdowns.
Curtiss added 22 carries for 98 yards and two touchdowns.
Bevan added seven carries for 41 yards while Golden had six carries for 35 yards.
The Eagles finished with 221 yards passing and 34 on the ground for 255 total yards of offense.
Mountain Grove will host Salem on Friday, Oct. 19. The Tigers are 1-5 and coming off a close 28-27 loss to Willow Springs. Their lone win came in week two over Linn, 35-0.