By Tyler F. Thompson (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
SPRINGFIELD — The Glendale Falcons (2-3) entered Friday’s home tilt against south side rival Kickapoo (0-5) looking for a spark.
That spark happened after an early 17-point hole, as they came back to beat visiting Kickapoo, 38-29.
“I talked to them all week on how the first five minutes were going to be so big,” said Glendale head coach Frank Tristan. “And then we laid an egg in the first five minutes. We gave them 14 points. I was really proud of our guys to recover from that and really step it up.”
The Chiefs benefited from an early pick-6 by Ahmaun Fowler just four minutes into the contest.
The Falcons fumbled the rock on their ensuing possession, which the Chiefs turned into a field goal after authoring an 11-play drive.
Then, the Falcons turned it over on downs, and the Chiefs found the end zone on a 41-yard bomb from quarterback Turner Hale as he connected with Tevin Christian on the go route.
Glendale had seen enough as they produced an 11-play drive, which culminated on a scramble by junior signal caller Will Ross from 13 yards out.
All of a sudden, the Falcons were back in it, 17-7.
Glendale pounced on the onside kick and were in business as Samari Pickett took the rock six yards for the score on the nine-play drive as the Kickapoo lead was cut to 17-14.
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The Falcons orchestrated an eight-play drive before settling for the field goal.
Tied at 17, the Glendale sideline made its presence known, feeling the turn in momentum.
“I knew they were going to exploit some of our weaknesses. It was a dogfight,” said Tristan. “I am really proud of our guys. This was really the first time that our offensive line kind of rallied a little bit and started to finish plays.”
Ross took charge, finding Joelle Rover in the hole of the zone en route to his 95-yard score as the Falcons took their first lead of the night at the 4:04 mark of the second quarter, up 24-17.
“I am just so thankful he is on my team,” Ross said of Rover. “He made such an amazing play on that. The quarterback’s job is to get the ball out to the guys who can make a play happen.”
Ross was thrust into a starting role after Cash Newberry went out in Week 3 against Carthage.
“He faced some adversity. I am proud of him for sticking in there. A lot of quarterbacks would throw in the towel after throwing a pick-6,” Tristan said of Ross. “Will didn’t do that and that is why the guys love him. He is going to fight until the end.”
The defense stepped up on the next drive as Maddux Denning sacked Hale and the Chiefs converted the field goal with 35 seconds remaining in the opening half as Glendale led 24-20.
Kickapoo split the uprights on its initial possession of the third quarter, and the Falcons saw the lead cut to one point, 24-23.
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Glendale turned the ball over after a missed field goal attempt.
Up 24-23 with 12 minutes remaining in regulation, the defense came up big as Rover snared the interception.
“I am telling you, he is special,” Tristan said of Rover. “He is one of those [guys]. Everything you coach, like the fundamentals, and then he just does whatever he does. I am so proud of him. He blocks when he is not getting the ball.”
Glendale was able to close out the game with a 38-29 win.
Scoring (unofficial)
Glendale amassed 420 yards of offense.
Ross threw for 263 yards and two touchdowns.
Rover had one interception and one touchdown.
Kickapoo garnered 355 yards of offense.
Hale threw for one touchdown.
Christian had one receiving touchdown.
Glendale is at Waynesville (0-5) next week and Kickapoo hosts Nixa (5-0).
