Ash Grove rolls past Houston

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By Angie Brushwood (OzarksSportsZone.com)

The Ash Grove Pirates opened their season with a 36-14 win over the Houston Tigers. The Pirates held a comfortable 22-6 lead going into the 4th, but the Tigers’ Paydon Dixon went wide on a received pass, rushing for a 50-yard touchdown and 2-point conversion, 22-14.

The Pirates pushed back, scoring a 43-yard touchdown in 3 plays, carried by Spencer Eagleburger and converted by quarterback Chase White, 30-14. The Tigers’ try at answering was stopped by Braden Trammell on the next possession. Trammell gave the Pirates their final 36-14 lead with a 41-yard interception return.

Pirates’ head coach Ryan Long credited the tenacity of the Houston Tigers.

“Braden’s interception gave us a big energy boost and put the spark back,” said Long. “I’ve got to give Houston credit, they are a tough team, and they did not stop fighting. They came out and did not back down.”

The Pirates covered 96 yards in 12 plays over 5 minutes at the end of the 3rd and beginning of the 4th, scoring on a 1-yard push into the end zone by Eagleburger, 6-0.

The Pirates scored again, thanks to Noah Branham’s ball recovery and carry taking them to the 2-yard line. Three plays later, White carried for 4 yards for the goal, with conversion by Eagleburger, 14-0.

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The Tigers came back for the 2nd half ready to fight. Paydon Dixon carried for 5 yards, scoring after a 3-minute, 9-play over 69 yards. Evan Richardson carried for 48 yards on the play, 14-6.

On the next possession, Chase White padded the Pirates’ lead with an 85-yard, 12-play goal with conversion, 22-6.

Pirates quarterback Chase White rushed for 74 yards, with 137 yards passing.

“We learned that we have the fight to come out here and play every single down, every quarter,” said White. “We came in here thinking that it would be a pretty easy game, we’d go and we’d score the first play. Houston was a lot tougher than we thought they would be, and you can’t underestimate a team like we did. We made that rookie mistake tonight. But we learned we have the fight to come out here and play a tough game.”

Trailing 16 points with first possession in the 4th, Dixon received a pass from Richardson and swung wide, taking the Pirates by surprise with a 50-yard touchdown and conversion for the Tigers, 22-14.

Trammell’s interception return with over 7 minutes remaining ignited the Pirates and sealed the Tigers’ fate, 36-14.

“It was all kind of a blur,” said Trammell. “I saw the ball, caught it, and just took off. That’s all I can say. I think it was a big morale boost. It really got us going. It got the energy back on our side.”

Spencer Eagleburger rushed for 115 yards for the Pirates.

“I was very surprised at the way our team fought back, and we faced adversity very well,” said Eagleburger. “Our line and everyone else got together and we punched first, and they punched back, and we punched right back. It was just crazy the way we faced adversity tonight. It was unbelievable.”
1 2 3 4
Ash Grove 0 14 8 14 –36
Houston 0 0 6 8 –14

Ash Grove:
Chase White, QB, 2 touchdowns, 74 rushing, 137 yards passing
Spencer Eagleburger, 2 touchdowns, 115 rushing

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