By Kary Booher
They’ve got senior Daegan Sympson as a pulling guard and seeking out all comers. They’ve got Jacob Bowers up at center and, snarling at the tackles, are Jake Swope, Dylan Scaggs and sometimes Dugan Kelly – and then can plow the way with another big body in guard Sebastian Agnew.
Hey, you want old-school football? Check out the West Plains Zizzers, and Sympson – a team captain – doesn’t plan to alter the script. Not after the Zizzers beat the Hillcrest Hornets 42-6 on Friday night at Shumate Stadium, riding the O-line and a swarming defense to up end what was supposed to be one of southwest Missouri’s most intriguing showdowns.
“During week one, Coach told us we weren’t that physical,” Sympson said.
And?
“That didn’t sit well with me,” Sympson said.
Apparently not. On a night when Hillcrest was maybe two, or three plays from at least forging a halftime tie – if not holding the lead – the Zizzers blew open a 21-6 advantage in churning out 366 yards of total offense.
In essence, back Brayden Lidgard and quarterback Connor Rackley – both sophomores – got behind that line and had a field day, accounting for six of West Plains’ touchdowns. Lidgard raged for 243 total yards (177 rushing) and three TDs himself thanks, in part, to touchdowns of 60 yards – on a dump pass-and-run (mostly run) – and 54-yard sprint, while Rackley threw for two TDs and ran for two others.
This on a night when Hillcrest (2-2) was left wondering what might have been. The Hornets got flagged for 80 yards in penalties, including four times on 10-yard holding calls, and lost five possessions to interceptions (three times) and fumbles (twice).
“We didn’t play well or come ready to play. Very disappointing. We’re a better football team than this,” Hillcrest coach John Beckham after he took a seat on the home bench after all Hornets had headed off to the locker room.
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To him, he is concerned about a turnaround in time in order to snag a home playoff game.
Asked what his team could have done differently, Beckham said, “Tackling would have been good. We just did a poor job of tackling. It’s the old saying that we got out-coached and out-played. We made a lot of mistakes.”
Friday’s game turned late in the second quarter, actually.
The Hornets had pulled within 14-6 with 4:36 left before halftime, doing so on a 14-play, 80-yard drive in which quarterback Haden Parton avoided two near sacks on one play and positioned Hillcrest for a successful, third-and-8 at the Zizzer’s 35. (He finished the drive with a 2-yard run on a half-bootleg.)
Hillcrest forced a quick punt on the next series, but West Plains outside linebacker Lane Jett soon intercepted a pass (his first of two) at the Hillcrest 25 with 1:52 left in the quarter. Rackley scored on a 19-yard run just three plays later, pushing the advantage to 21-6.
“Our offensive line was really good tonight. Usually when they’re good, we’re good,” West Plains coach Steve Ary said.
Hillcrest had opened eyes a couple of weeks ago in beating Glendale.
“We thought we were getting a good team tonight. We were prepared,” Ary said. “We didn’t take them lightly, and I think we played our best game.”
The O-line asserted itself early. West Plains took the opening drive 61 yards to the end zone, covering 14 plays (13 runs), with Lidgard finishing it on a 2-yard run. The Zizzers converted three third downs along the way and didn’t commit a penalty.
It was soon 14-0 on West Plains’ second series, the one with Lidgard going for 60 on Rackley’s dump pass over the middle as the Zizzers beat Hillcrest’s blitz.
After halftime, it was all West Plains. Jett’s second INT led to Rackley’s 1-yard TD and a 28-6 advantage, and Lidgard burst for a 54-yard score on the Zizzers’ next series.
“It means a lot to have a line that works hard every play and doesn’t take a play off,” Lidgard said.
For the West Plains defense, a 21-6 halftime lead did not feel safe, however, considering Hillcrest’s array of speedy receivers.
“We knew (at halftime) we had to execute and do what we set out to do,” Jett said. “They are very athletic. They weren’t that far off. They were just right there. We had to go back to the game plan.”
Rackley finished 8-of-11 passing for 140 yards, and his final TD was a 9-yard strike to Daniel Cobb.
Hillcrest was limited to 97 yards rushing, while Parton finished 13-of-20 passing for 101 yards.
“I feel like we made a statement,” Sympson said.
