Mountain Grove Panthers kickoff season with Jamboree

The Mountain Grove Panthers’ football team returned to the grid iron last Friday night when they hosted a Jamboree with both Thayer and Willow Springs. Houston did not participate this year and instead chose to participate in a Jamboree at Clever.
The Panthers opened with a South Central Association (SCA) Conference showdown with Thayer as the offense had 15 plays against the Bobcats.
After Braydon Curtiss opened with a 32-yard run on the first play, Brody Bevan scored two plays later from six yards out with a touchdown run.
With the series restarted on the 40, Bevan had a 22-yard carry two plays later.
On another series, Damien LaFranchise had a 17-yard carry and one for 10 yards before Thayer stopped the drive inside the 10.
In the following series, Cole Dowden scored on a 38-yard touchdown run.
The first-team defense then battled Thayer’s offense.
The Bobcats did get a 14-yard gain, but their drive stalled inside the 20.
On the next series, Braxton Williams intercepted a pass on the nine yard line.
Thayer did score on a 40-yard touchdown run one play later after a ball carrier reversed the field and ran his way into the end zone.
Thayer took another possession into the 10 before being stopped on three straight rushing plays.
The Panthers’ Zane Blackwell ended the scrimmage with an interception.
After Thayer and Willow Springs played their own scrimmage, the Panthers took on the Bears.
Curtiss opened with a 34-yard run before scoring on a six-yard touchdown run.
The Bears played inspired defense before Eli Golden’s seven-yard run turned a fourth down into a first down.
Three plays later, LaFranchise scored on a 19-yard touchdown run.
Cody Coonts did add a 15-yard run before Joseph Luigez added a six-yard touchdown run.
Golden opened up play for the Panthers’ defense against Willow Springs’ offense with an interception on the first play.
A second drive stalled when Sawyer Kidd had a one-handed knock down of a Willow Springs’ pass.
The Bears then had a long touchdown pass called back due to a penalty.
Two plays later, they scored on a 34-yard passing touchdown.
Mountain Grove’s defense would eventually recover three fumbles to end the scrimmage. Coming up with recoveries included Austin Virtue, Hunter Fry and Theran Peterson.

Preview of the
upcoming season
Though the Mountain Grove Panthers’ football team lost several key players from a 10-2 district championship squad, a core group of returners are looking to leave their mark on the grid iron during the 2026 fall season.
With the running game as their identity, the Panthers do return both Braydon Curtiss and Eli Golden, two players who both rushed for 1,000 yards last year.
Brody Bevan and Damien LaFranchise are also expected to see some time in the backfield.
Creating holes for them up front includes returning All-State junior Malaki Williams. Sawyer Kidd will be the team’s center while Brannon Short and Slade Rodgers also provide up front protection for the running backs and new junior quarterback Dalton Shannon. Shannon is taking over for Aden Estep, who graduated.
The offense also features All-South Central Association (SCA) Conference tight end Bret Gardner.
“We obviously will have some new faces in our line-up, but because of the training we have had for the last two years, I think we can become very competitive over time,” said Mountain Grove head coach Dan Swofford.
Defensively, All-SCA Conference defensive linemen Slade Rodgers returns. He is joined by Ethan Haacke at defensive end and other linemen Short, Kidd and Williams. Ryder Jones will also see time on the defensive end.
Curtiss was the team’s leading tackler and earned honors in the linebacker position. Briar Parsons will also return to the defense.
As for the secondary, key contributors include Braxton Williams, Golden and Easton Doroscan.
The Panthers will be without the services of Kale Gardner on both sides of the field due to injury.
“Defensively, we will continue to be an attacking defense,” Coach Swofford said.
“It’s another part of our identity and we like it.”
As for special teams, Coach Swofford said the key special teams positions are a work in progress due to losing so many players to graduation.
“We just want to be the best version of ourselves as a football team and as individual players,” Coach Swofford said.
“We believe if we can do that, then the wins will take care of themselves in the future.”
Mountain Grove opens their season at home this Friday, Aug. 28 against Fair Grove starting at 7 p.m.
They will travel to West Plains in week two. Homecoming is scheduled for Sep. 18 against Willow Springs.