Mountain Grove football dominates Houston, 48-7

With a 48-7 victory over Houston on a rare Thursday night game, the Mountain Grove Panthers’ football is set for a South Central Association (SCA) Conference showdown in Thayer on Friday, Oct. 23. A win will earn the Panthers the outright SCA championship as the Bobcats enter the match-up with one loss to Liberty (Mountain View) back in week three. Thayer is coming off a 22-13 win over Ava and a 42-0 shutout of Willow Springs.
It did not take long for Mountain Grove to get things going against Houston. On the very first play, Brannon Short used his shoulder to hit a receiver’s ball after a catch and it popped up in the air into Eli Golden’s hands. Golden returned it 44 yards for a touchdown. His failed extra-point kick had the Panthers up 6-0 early.
Houston’s first possession ended with a deep punt that forced the Panthers’ offense to start a drive from their own 16.
Eleven plays later, Mountain Grove scored on Brody Bevan’s 23-yard touchdown run and his two-point conversion for a 14-0 edge.
The Panthers’ defense followed by forcing a three-and-out though another solid Tigers’ punt started their next offensive drive on the 14.
Mountain Grove marched 86 yards with the help of quarterback Dalton Shannon’s 31-yard pass to Bret Gardner.
Braydon Curtiss converted a 4th-and-4 with an eight-yard carry before scoring two plays later on a four-yard touchdown run. Golden’s kick pushed the lead to 21-0 with 8:08 left in the first half.
Houston’s offense used some trickery with a flee flicker to start their next drive with a 34-yard passing play.
The defense responded though with a sack for a nine yard loss. Two plays later, Carson Gibson recovered a fumble to give Mountain Grove back the ball. Unfortunately, the Panthers’ offense would fumble the ball back on the very next play.
Houston’s offense would eventually set up a 32-yard field goal attempt that was no good to end the drive.
Damien LaFranchise helped the Panthers’ offense on their next drive with a 45-yard run. He added a 14-yard carry and 19-yard carry before scoring on a three-yard touchdown plunge. The failed extra-point kick kept Mountain Grove in front 27-0.
After another Houston punt, the Panthers’ offense had 43 seconds left in the half. That final drive would end with an incomplete pass.
In the first half, the Panthers’ offense had 50 yards passing and 241 yards rushing for 291 total yards of offense. Houston’s offense had just 76 total yards.
LaFranchise set the tone of the second half with an 11-yard carry on the first play where he ran over a Tigers’ defender. Eight plays later, he scored on a one-yard touchdown run. His two-point conversion pushed the Panthers’ lead to 35-0.
After Mountain Grove’s defense forced yet another Tigers’ punt on the following drive, the Panthers’ offense started a 76-yard scoring drive.
Bevan had a big 35-yard carry before capping off the drive with a 14-yard touchdown run. Golden’s extra-point kick pushed the lead to 42-0 with 9:54 left in the game.
Houston’s offense would respond two plays later with a 63-yard touchdown pass. An extra-point kick cut the lead to 42-7.
On the following kickoff, Easton Doroscan caught the ball on the 3 and broke away for a 97-yard touchdown return. The score meant in one minute in 25 seconds, 20 total points were put on the scoreboard.
Mountain Grove’s offense had 50 yards passing and 383 on the ground for 433 total yards of offense in the victory.
LaFranchise led the Panthers with 18 carries for 146 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Bevan added seven carries for 109 yards and two touchdowns.
Shannon added 10 carries for 60 yards and he completed 3-of-5 passes for 50 yards. Curtiss added six carries for 36 yards and one touchdown.
Houston’s offense had 193 total yards with 129 in the air and 64 on the ground.