Zizzers hold off late surge by Bolivar to win District Championship, 24-21

Championship football games are intense.

 

This one was certainly that.

 

It was all Zizzers at the beginning. Even Zizzer Head Coach Joel Wyatt said, “We just played lights out football that first half.”

 

By “lights out” he meant it was a focused, disciplined Zizzer squad that outplayed Bolivar in every aspect of the game. The Zizzer defense picked off two Bolivar passes and kept Bolivar's running game contained. 

 

In the first half the Zizzer offense looked crisp and efficient. Running back Remington Wilson added to his 1,300+ rushing yards this season by breaking away for a 36-yard touchdown run that put West Plains on the scoreboard first. Kicker Chase Larsen hit the PAT and put up another 3 points with a perfect 26-yard field goal. Running back Jackson Taylor ran for another touchdown from the 5-yard line and with Larsen’s PAT, the Zizzers led at half, 17-0.

 

But Bolivar was not willing to go quietly into the night and let their championship hopes dwindle. 

 

It’s not very often that an onside kick works, but the Liberators did it not just once, but twice, in the second half to maintain possession of the ball. Two successful onside kicks!

 

“We knew they would come in here and play scrappy and be gritty and not give up,” said Coach Wyatt. “Give credit to that kicker. That second one (onside kick) he kicked took a bounce that was completely undefendable.”

 

Linebacker Alex Judd led the Zizzer defense with his first interception of the season. “I saw it coming and thought it was too high but when I put my hands up, there it was! So I just ran as hard as I could and kind of died at the end. I really thought I had a touchdown.” Judd was tripped by the shoestrings and landed at the 1-yard line. 

 

The Zizzers scored two plays later on a 4-yard run from running back Jackson Taylor. Larsen kicked in the extra point. With 9 minutes to go in the 4th quarter, the Zizzers had the momentum and the lead, 24-7.

 

Bolivar didn’t seem to care. The Liberators put together a solid drive to the endzone for seven points, forced the Zizzer offense to punt, and scored another touchdown on a long deep ball. In no time, it was a 24-21 ballgame, with 4:16 on the clock.

 

Gratefully, the Zizzers stayed calm, got a couple of first downs, and let the clock run out to win a District Championship!

 

That’s three District Championships in four years for the Zizzers. 

 

“I’ve been fortunate to have this experience many times, and it just never gets old,” said Coach Wyatt.

 

West Plains will host the undefeated Warrenton Warriors (11-0) for a State playoff quarterfinals game on November 23 at 1 PM.