Mountain Grove Panthers plows through Willow Springs

The Mountain Grove Panthers’ football team drew an undefeated and much improved Willow Springs’ Bears squad last Friday night who was coming off of two shutout victories where they outscored their opponents, 75-0.
Though the Panthers had some adversity playing without starting tailback Braydon Curtiss, ball carriers handling the full load combined to rush for nearly 450 total yards in a convincing 54-14 for Mountain Grove.
Meanwhile, the Panthers’ defense held the Bears to just 134 total yards of offense in the big win.
Damien LaFranchise started taking advantage of his increased workload, gaining 21 yards on his second carry of the game during the Panthers’ opening drive.
Eli Golden added a 23-yard carry on the 59-yard drive that ended with LaFranchise’s two-yard touchdown plunge. Dameon Martin’s extra-point kick gave the Panthers a 7-0 lead.
On the Bears’ first drive, defensive tackle Slade Rodgers absolutely destroyed a Bears’ ball carrier for a three-yard loss.
A punt gave the Panthers the ball on their own 45. Unfortunately, Golden was on his way to a 41-yard touchdown when he fumbled the ball into the end zone for a touchback.
A Bears three-and-out and a shanked punt set the Panthers’ offense on the Bears’ 29 to start their next drive.
Four plays later, LaFranchise scored on a 21-yard touchdown run. A failed kick kept the score at 13-0.
Willow Springs’ offense started to move the ball with a short seven-yard pass on their following drive. An incomplete pass led to yet another punt.
Golden picked up a big 16-yard carry on the Panthers’ second play of a drive that started near midfield.
Mountain Grove quarterback Aden Estep had a wide receiver then get open early in the second quarter, but he was tripped up leaving Estep’s pass to sail deep into the end zone for an interception.
After another three-and-out for the Bears, Estep returned a punt all the way to the Bears’ 10.
Three plays later, Golden scored on a seven-yard touchdown run. Martin’s kick pushed the lead to 20-0.
Mountain Grove’s Carson Gibson had a big sack for a seven-yard loss on Willow Springs’ next drive that ended on the next play when Briar Parsons intercepted a tipped pass.
Starting with the ball on the Bears’ 34, the Panthers scored three plays later on Golden’s 16-yard touchdown run. Martin’s kick gave Mountain Grove a 27-0 edge with 5:26 left in the first half.
A roughing the passer call gave Willow Springs’ offense a first down as they pushed the ball to midfield.
They completed a 34-yard passing  play and eventually closed the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run. A two-point conversion closed the gap to 27-8.
Mountain Grove’s offense responded as they started their last drive of the first half with 2:36 on the clock.
Mountain Grove’s rushing attack continued as Golden picked up 23 yards on the first play. LaFranchise added a 19-yard carry and Golden ended the 67-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown run.
The two-point conversion failed as Mountain Grove entered halftime up 33-8.
The Panthers’ offense outgained the Bears in the first half, 315-51, in total yards of offense.
Mountain Grove’s defense forced a three-and-out to start the second half. The Panthers’ offense responded with a 69-yard drive featuring three carries for 12 yards or more before Estep scored from 12 yards out. Martin’s kick pushed the lead to 40-8.
Two plays later, Estep intercepted a Bears’ pass to give his offense back the ball on Mountain Grove’s 33.
Brody Bevan had a 14-yard gain and LaFranchise added one for 17 yards before scoring two plays later from one yard out.
Martin’s kick pushed the lead to 48-8.
Willow Springs’ offense finally found the big play they needed as they scored about a minute later on a 61-yard touchdown pass. This cut the lead to 48-14.
After both teams exchanged punts, the Panthers’ offense went on a 48-yard drive that was sparked by JV quarterback Dalton Shannon running through a Bears’ defender for a 16-yard gain.
Kaden Murphy extended the drive with an eight-yard gain on fourth down then ended the drive with a 16-yard touchdown run. The failed kick kept the score at 54-14.
Golden would add a big tackle on a Bears’ receiver who caught the ball near midfield before the game ended with a solid win for the Panthers.
LaFranchise finished the game with 23 carries for 199 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Golden tallied 11 carries for 132 yards and two touchdowns.
Murphy added seven carries fro 52 yards and one touchdown. Meanwhile, Estep tallied six carries for 32 yards and one touchdown.
As a team, the Panthers had 447 yards of total offense, all coming on the ground. Willow Springs had 138 yard passing and minus for yards rushing for 134 total yards of offense.
Mountain Grove will play Cabool for Homecoming on Friday, Sep. 26.