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Mountain Grove Panthers shut out Houston, 27-0

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The Mountain Grove Panthers football team took on a three win Houston program last Friday night that has had three games canceled due to COVID-19 concerns this season.

Houston’s lack of time on the field really showed up in the match-up in Mountain Grove as the Panthers dominated all phases of the game for a 27-0 shutout victory.

Though they had just 209 total yards of offense, the Panthers took advantage of many opportunities they had to score and were able to keep the Tigers’ offense to just 130 total yards.

Mountain Grove scored on their opening drive after a bad Houston punt gave them the ball on the Tigers’ 24.

Brendan Rogers closed off the short drive with a one-yard plunge into the end zone. Hoyt Mathews’ extra-point kick gave Mountain Grove a 7-0 lead nearly five minutes into the game.

Houston’s offense began to move the ball on their second drive of the game when Wes Drew picked up a big sack for a three-yard loss. Two plays later, Houston’s quarterback was picked off by Alex Casas on the Panthers’ 36. A penalty gave Mountain Grove the ball at midfield.

Quarterback Tyson Elliott then began to pick Houston’s defense a part. He completed a pass to Jase Dowden for eight yards, hit Bryce Stenzel for 12 yards then ended the drive with a pass to Drew Vaughn. Vaughn caught the ball 14 yards down the field before a spin move gave him an open lane to the end zone for a 29-yard touchdown pass. Mathews’ second kick gave the Panthers a 14-0 lead.

Houston finally had a big play early in the second quarter as former Panther Brody McNew completed a pass on a hook and ladder play for 26 yards. Hunter Means answered defensively with a big sack on the next play. A fumble one play later gave Jaxon Holman a tackle for a 14-yard loss. Then Todd Edwards intercepted a pass with an acrobatic catch.

After a three-and-out, Houston’s offense received the ball back near midfield.

They marched to the 13 before ending the first half with a pass intercepted in the end zone by the Panthers’ Hollen Glenn.

Mountain Grove had 60 yards passing and 37 on the ground in the first half for just 97 total yards of offense.

Houston had 39 yards passing and 62 on the ground for 101 total yards of offense.

After a dropped snap on a punt attempt by the Panthers early in the third quarter, Houston started a drive on Mountain Grove’s 42-yard line.

Fortunately, Edwards and Glenn combined on a sack for a six-yard loss. Good pressure on fourth down led to an incompletion to end the Tigers’ drive.

The Panthers’ offense began to flex its muscle on the next drive with hard runs by running back Trenton Bevan. Bevan had three carries for a hard earned 16 yards. A pass interference call on an Elliott pass into the end zone extended the drive. Elliott then connected on a 15-yard touchdown pass to Glenn. Mathews’ kick was good and Mountain Grove led 21-0.

Houston then fumbled the ball away early in the fourth quarter.

Elliott soon hit Rogers for a 40-yard touchdown pass. Mathews missed the extra-point kick, keeping the score at 27-0.

Casas added a late interception in the end zone and Kaden Bruce had a late fumble recovery, which was Houston’s fourth turnover in the game.

In the win, Elliott completed 14-of-19 passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns. Vaughn had a good day receiving with five catches for 57 yards and one touchdown. Glenn was held to just 16 yards on six carries, but did have one catch for 15 yards and one touchdown. Bevan had nine carries for 27 yards. Dowden had four catches for 21 yards.

Mountain Grove will travel to Thayer for their final regular season game at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23.