District Football Playoffs: Branson Wins in OT, Forsyth, Reeds Spring Roll

The Lakes Area Teams went 3-1 in the opening round of the Missouri State High School Association Playoffs including an overtime thriller.

That game was in Branson, as the Pirates won over Glendale 41-38 with a Dane Effird 28-yard Field Goal after the Pirate defense forced a turnover on the Falcons' overtime possession. 

After Glendale scored on the opening drive of the game, Branson scored on the next two possessions to take a 10-7 lead then scored two straight times after the Falcons tied it to go up by 14 points. The Falcons then used a long kick-off return to set-up a score just before half and then forced a Pirate turnover early in the second half to that led to a score and tied the game with the teams exchanging scores the rest of regulation prior to overtime.

Quarterback Luke McCormick threw for a score and ran for another to pace the Pirates, who now move on to play at Lebanon in the District Semi-finals next week.

The two other Lakes Area winners were Forsyth and Reeds Spring, who rolled in the opening games, the Panthers winning 65-20 over Willow Springs in Class 2, the Wolves shutting out East Newton 41-0. The next games will see Forsyth host Strafford and Reeds Spring travel to Mount Vernon, who ended the season for Hollister with a 42-0 win.

Scores
Class 6
Ozark 13 Waynesville 12

Class 5
Branson 41 Glendale 38 OT
Republic 42 Parkview 6
Willard 36 Central 14
Carthage 42 Sedalia Smith-Cotton 3
Raytown South 35 Neosho 14

Class 4
Hillcrest 12 Rogersville 7
West Plains 50 Monett 0
McDonald County 41 Marshfield 0
Carl Junction 42 Lincoln Prep 0

Class 3
Reeds Spring 41 East Newton 0
Mount Vernon 42 Hollister 0
Cassville 24 Aurora 14
Mountain Grove 29 Clever 7 

Class 2
Forsyth 65 Willow Springs 20
Strafford 35 Houston 13
Mtn. View-Liberty 20 Catholic 14