Ava found new life during a 2-hour lightening delay to erase a first-half deficit and rally past Willow Springs for an 8-7 victory Friday night.
Chance Davis scored on a 4-yard run with 7:46 left in the game to pull Ava (1-1) within a point. The Bears, who were playing at home, went for two and converted when quarterback Jonathan Batcheller connected with Taylor Wallace.
Ava’s scoring drive was set up by a sack deep in Willow Springs territory.
Willow Springs (0-2) capitalized on an interception to score midway through the first quarter on a 1-yard run by senior Brandon Messex.
It was the first victory of the season for Ava, which entered the year ranked in the Class 3 preseason poll before losing its opener. The Bears travel to Houston Friday.
St. Clair 13, Salem 7: The Tigers turned the ball over three times and managed just 124 yards of total offense as they remained winless in 2007.
Salem’s lone score came on a 62-yard touchdown run by senior fullback Max Ball on the Tigers’ third play of the third quarter. The two-point conversion failed, leaving Salem trailing 10-6.
Salem (0-2) managed just three first downs and didn’t complete a pass.
Ball has 86 yards on 10 carries to lead the Tigers, who committed three turnovers. In the previous week’s loss to Mountain Grove, Salem fumbled six times.
Salem’s Yousef Ibrahim was held to 22 yards on eight attempts.
St. Clair (1-1) took a 7-0 lead at halftime on a second-quarter touchdown run by Corey Pfaft. The Bulldogs also got 40- and 25-yard field goals by Richard York in the second half.
The Tigers, who went 8-2 last season, host Owensville Friday.
Cabool 13, Galena, Kan. 0: Quarterback Patrick Jesse ran for a touchdown and had another passing one as the Bulldogs left Kansas Saturday afternoon still undefeated.
Jesse scored on a 5-yard run in the first quarter. He also completed a touchdown pass to Danny Skaggs in the second quarter.
Cabool (2-0) travels to Springfield Catholic Friday.
Mountain Grove 14, Nixa 7: The Panthers scored two times in the fourth quarter to remain undefeated.
With Mountain Grove (2-0) trailing 7-0, Aaron Charleston caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Chance White to tie the score.
Greg Kutz later put the Panthers ahead for good with a 3-yard run.
The game was scoreless at halftime. Nixa’s Ryan Regagen scored from three yards away in the third quarter to put the Panthers behind.
Nixa (2-0) had 16 first downs – four more than the Panthers – and 207 rushing yards.
