Daniels scores four touchdowns to lead Fair Grove past Mountain Grove

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By Tyler Thompson (For OzarksSportsZone.com)

FAIR GROVE, Mo. — The Fair Grove Eagles football team (1-0) was 25 points away from a Class 2 District 3 championship last season.

The Eagles used that loss to fuel their offseason program this year, and the once-sour taste paid dividends Friday evening as the Eagles took care of business on their home turf, outlasting Mountain Grove, 48-19, for the season-opening win.

“We had to be flexible all over the board. We didn’t know what they were going to run,” senior signal caller Kody Stacye said. “We have an RPO (run-pass option). We have a run play and a pass play, so you have to be aware of both.”

While the offense illuminated the field on yet another humid, sticky evening in the Ozarks, the defense flew to the ball, was disciplined on their keys, and allowed a mere six points in the final 24 minutes of action.

Stacye said the defensive attack is just as versatile as the offense.

Added Stacye: “Our defense is an animal. Our linebackers, holy moly, it is going to be hard to run on us.”

Stacye wasted little time, operating the right reads, and found Logan Daniels on the 33-yard touchdown on the opening drive.

A mere minutes later, Daniels took the punt return nearly 45 yards for the score, giving the Eagles the two-score lead in the first six minutes of action, 14-0.

One visual component throughout the night was Stacye’s speed, which has given the senior a leg up compared to one year ago.

“Being a returner, it helps a lot,” Stacye said. “You come back, and you already know everything. You know what to do. You don’t have to learn everything you do. You really don’t have the nerves.”

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME

After a Panthers score by wideout Drew Vaughan, Daniels was at it again, as Stacye found the senior wideout for the 31-yard score, putting the Eagles up 21-7.

For opposing defenses, it truly is pick your poison when formulating a game plan, and the balance and athleticism of Daniels is something Stacye and company welcome.

Daniels finished with four scores on the night.

Said Stacye of Daniels: “Oh, it is amazing. Logan is an animal. He is just an all-around stud: football, basketball, baseball.”

But the Panthers responded with a 9-play drive, culminating with a Tyson Elliott 6-yd fade touchdown pass to Jase Dowden, as the Panthers pulled to within eight points, 21-13.

The Eagles authored an 8-4 record during the pandemic-filled 2020 campaign, while Mountain Grove produced a 5-7 record, falling to Buffalo in the district title game.

Fair Grove returns a plethora of talent to the gridiron this fall, as 17 starters (eight offensive, nine defensive) look to lead the boys in purple to a deep postseason run.

Those starters kept their feet on the gas pedal, as the Eagles extended the lead to 28-13 just before halftime on Blake Lewis’s touchdown reception on Stacye’s touch pass.

“It didn’t set well with us,” Stacye said of the district championship loss. “We wanted to come back better than ever. Every one of [us] hit the weight room hard. We don’t want to lose another one. They want this one coming up.”

Stacye exhibited his growth from last year, taking advantage of the cushion the Panthers’ corners were utilizing, opening the screen and flat passing routes.

The Panthers, late in the third quarter, were still in the thick of it as Trenton Bevan found the end zone with 38 seconds remaining, cutting the Eagles’ lead to 28-19.

But Fair Grove saw enough, as the defense clamped down and Stacye found the end zone on his 6-yard scamper.

Enter Daniels on the ensuing Panthers possession.

Daniels snared the Tyson Elliott pass out of the air and took the rock 48 yards to pay dirt, extending the lead to 42-19.

After the Panthers coughed up the ball seconds later, Ryken Adkins scored from 10 yards out to seal the opening-night win.

This game is not supposed to be one of a simplistic nature, but Daniels sure made it look easy.

“Practice is absolutely horrible. We’re puking on the field every single day. [We] come out here, and it’s just easy for us. Coach has a saying, ‘Hate me now, love me later.”

Daniels tallied 170 all-purpose yards and four scores.

“We have a good offensive line and defensive line,” added Daniels. “They are just awesome out there.”

Often times, large leads can be a detriment as players can sometimes become complacent.

But the Eagles appear to deviate from that norm.

Said Daniels: “We were just centered in, playing for our families. We just had to keep on playing.”

Stacye added five touchdowns (run/pass) and authored 217 yards of offense.

Blake Lewis added one score.

The Eagles hit the road for a tough contest next week when they travel to Liberty (Mountain View).

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