Mountain Grove Panthers’ football cruises past Salem in districts

It was another special week for the 2024 Mountain Grove Panthers’ football team.
They began the week finding themselves ranked No. 10 in the latest Class 3 state rankings report as their six game winning streak included wins over quality programs in Liberty (Mountain View) and Thayer. This came after they opened the year with an 0-3 loss.
Mountain Grove then ended their week with a 42-8 victory over Salem in the first round of the Class 3, District 5 Tournament.
The Panthers will now face state-ranked Mt. Vernon (7-3) on Friday, Nov. 8 on the Mountaineers’ field after their 62-7 win over Buffalo.
On the other side of the bracket, top seeded Strafford will take on St. James as the No. 5 seeded Tigers upset Cuba, 33-26, last Friday night.
Against Salem, the Tigers had four running plays against the Panthers’ defense that accounted for more than 30 yards. This would result in 69% of their offense for the night.
While Salem scored their lone touchdown with 2:16 left in the game, Mountain Grove led 35-0 at halftime and never looked back in an easy 42-8 victory.
The Panthers struck first when Destin Unger scored on a 30-yard touchdown run. Brayden Haughey’s extra-point kick put Mountain Grove up 7-0.
Salem responded with a big 31-yard run followed two plays later by a 33-yard run to take the ball near the red zone.
Salem’s quarterback then fumbled the snap that was recovered by Eli Golden on the Tigers’ 29.
Aiden Estep led the next Panthers’ offensive drive as he had a 27-yard run followed two plays later by connecting with Haughey for a 41-yard touchdown pass. Haughey’s good kick pushed the lead to 14-0.
After Mountain Grove’s defense forced a three-and-out, a poor Salem punt gave Mountain Grove the ball on Salem’s 33.
Estep then connected with Unger for a 31-yard passing play followed by Estep’s 14-yard touchdown run. Haughey’s kick pushed the edge to 21-0.
The Tigers started their next possession with a 37-yard run. Fortunately, the Panthers’ defense forced a punt a few plays later.
Unger then continued his big day with a 75-yard touchdown run, and Haughey’s extra-point kick, gave the Panthers a 28-0 edge.
A diving catch by a Tigers’ receiver was good for 27 yards on Salem’s following drive. They would eventually punt the ball away with two minutes left in the half.
Starting at their own 20, Mountain Grove put together a methodical drive to end the half. Estep connected with Unger for an 18-yard passing play and one for 12 yards.
Estep would then get a 17-yard run before scoring from 16 yards out. Haughey’s good kick put the Panthers up 35-0 at halftime.
In the first half, Mountain Grove’s offense had 102 yards passing and 224 on the ground for 326 total yards.
Salem had seven yards passing and 142 on the ground for 149 total yards of offense.
Things got a little sloppy early in the third quarter as Salem fumbled the ball away on their own 17 with the mercy clock in effect.
Cooper Hoerning would score five plays later with a six-yard touchdown run. Haughey’s extra-point kick pushed the lead to 42—0.
With the JV offense in for the Panthers, they would fumble the ball away on their next drive to stop a drive in Tigers’ territory.
On a later drive, Christopher Fry had a pair of 11-yard carries. Unfortunately, a fumbled hand-off ended that drive.
Salem followed with a 43-yard run to get the ball to the Panthers’ 11.
They scored three players later on a one-yard touchdown run. A successful two-point conversion ended up making the final score, 42-8.
As a team, Mountain Grove finished with 102 yards passing and 268 on the ground for 370 total yards of offense.
After playing only in the first half, Estep was 4-of-7 passing for 102 yards and one touchdown. He also had 11 carries for 93 yards and two touchdowns.
Unger added three carries for 113 yards and two touchdowns. He hauled in three catches as well for 61 yards.
Hoerning had three carries for 13 yards and one touchdown.
Haughey had his lone catch for 41 yard and one touchdown while Fry added two carries for 22 yards.
Salem had just seven yards passing and 202 yards on the ground for 209 total yards of offense.